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There are few stories as universally romantic, or as technically demanding, as Swan Lake<\/em>. For more than a century, the ballet has captivated audiences with its tale of love tested by deception, darkness, and the hope that devotion can triumph over fate. This February, Nashville Ballet<\/a> brings Paul Vasterling\u2019s Swan Lake<\/em> back to TPAC\u2019s Jackson Hall stage for the first time since 2018, offering audiences a sweeping reminder of why this classic endures\u2014and why Nashville Ballet continues to rival much larger national companies in both artistry and ambition.<\/p>\n With live music performed by the Nashville Symphony and two alternating casts across four performances the weekend of February 27, Swan Lake<\/em> promises not only a visually stunning experience, but one that showcases the depth, versatility, and emotional intelligence of the company\u2019s dancers.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope people are surprised by the level of talent that this company and this organization has,\u201d says Artistic Director and CEO Nick Mullikin. \u201cAnd then to also have incredible live music in the pit from the Nashville Symphony, those two things paired together will shock people. We sometimes take for granted that we have a world-class ballet company and a world-class symphony right here in Nashville.\u201d<\/p>\n At its core, Swan Lake<\/em> is a story built for timelessness. Princess Odette, cursed by an evil sorcerer to live as a swan by day, can only be freed by true love. When Prince Siegfried enters her world, romance, betrayal, and sacrifice collide in one of ballet\u2019s most emotionally charged narratives.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has all the elements of a great story,\u201d Mullikin says. \u201cThere\u2019s love, there\u2019s an obstacle, there\u2019s evil, and the question of whether true love can overcome it. We all want to believe in something bigger than ourselves, something that can carry us through dark moments. Swan Lake<\/em> shows us that love really can win out.\u201d<\/p>\n That emotional throughline is what continues to resonate with audiences, whether they\u2019re lifelong ballet devotees or first-time attendees. Vasterling\u2019s choreography, inspired by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, honors tradition while allowing today\u2019s dancers to bring their own humanity and interpretation to the stage.<\/p>\n One of the most exciting aspects of this production is the opportunity to see the ballet through different artistic lenses. Across four performances, audiences will experience two casts: Lily Saito dancing Odette\/Odile opposite James Lankford as Prince Siegfried for two shows, and Colette Tilinski and Jorge Emilio Pe\u00f1a taking on the roles for the remaining performances.<\/p>\n \u201cIf people have the opportunity to see both casts, they\u2019ll see just how versatile these artists are,\u201d Mullikin says. \u201cOne dancer doing an incredibly challenging role in one show might be doing something completely different in another. That versatility is what ballet looks like today.\u201d<\/p>\n For Saito, dancing Odette and Odile is more than a career milestone, it\u2019s a childhood promise fulfilled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was eight years old, I watched Swan Lake<\/em> in New York City and promised my mom I would dance that role one day,\u201d she says. \u201cI didn\u2019t know anything back then, but now that it\u2019s happening, I\u2019m just really grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n Lankford, meanwhile, is stepping into Prince Siegfried during his very first season with the company, an opportunity that came as both a surprise and a challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my first full-length, four-act ballet,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting, but it\u2019s also really going to push me. It\u2019s a huge role to take on this early, and I\u2019m ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n For Tilinski, the responsibility of Odette\/Odile carries both excitement and weight. \u201cYou want to uphold the standard of Swan Lake<\/em>,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s a full-length ballet, and Odile especially is such a big responsibility. She\u2019s cunning, deceptive, sharp, and she gets to be fierce on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Pe\u00f1a agrees, noting that the role of Prince Siegfried demands a different kind of strength. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of partnering, a lot of pantomime, and a lot of emotional responsibility,\u201d he says. \u201cThis ballet really takes time to build relationships between characters, and that makes it special.\u201d<\/p>\n From an artistic standpoint, Swan Lake<\/em> is renowned for its difficulty. Odette\/Odile is widely considered the most challenging role in classical ballet, requiring a single dancer to embody two dramatically opposite characters with extreme stamina, precision, and emotional range. Prince Siegfried, while less overtly flashy, is no less demanding. Requiring sustained strength, flawless partnering, and the ability to carry the ballet\u2019s emotional arc.<\/p>\n \u201cSwan Lake puts everything together into one giant experience,\u201d Mullikin says. \u201cThese dancers are full athletes. They\u2019re taking a 90-minute class every day, rehearsing six hours a day, five days a week, and cross-training on top of that. But what\u2019s so incredible is that all of that physicality still allows for such subtle emotional storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n Both casts echo that sentiment. Preparation goes far beyond rehearsing steps, it\u2019s about mental focus, visualization, and calm.<\/p>\n \u201cI meditate before I go on,\u201d Saito says. \u201cThe nerves are always there, so I try to calm my body and visualize the character.\u201d<\/p>\n Tilinski adds that music plays a huge role in her preparation. \u201cI listen to the score constantly,\u201d she says. \u201cIt helps me get into the headspace of the character before I even step into the studio.\u201d<\/p>\n Ask anyone involved in the production what sets Nashville Ballet apart, and the answer is consistent: community.<\/p>\n \u201cThis group has come together in such a powerful way,\u201d Mullikin says. \u201cThey support one another, they believe in one another, and they push each other to be great. When you have that combination, magic happens, and we\u2019re witnessing it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n That camaraderie is evident both on and off the stage. Dancers from both casts regularly watch and cheer each other on during rehearsals and run-throughs, offering feedback, encouragement, and trust.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen one cast is running and the other is watching, we become each other\u2019s biggest cheerleaders,\u201d Pe\u00f1a says. \u201cWe know how hard it is because we\u2019re doing the same roles.\u201d<\/p>\n Tilinski agrees. \u201cThere\u2019s a comfort level here. We\u2019re honest with each other because we all want the best possible result.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked about his favorite moment in the ballet, Mullikin doesn\u2019t hesitate. \u201cAct IV,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen the swan maidens come together. There\u2019s something incredibly powerful about the corps de ballet uniting to break the curse. It\u2019s empowering, and I hope the audience feels that too.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a fitting reflection of the company itself\u2014united, resilient, and soaring to new heights.<\/p>\n As Nashville Ballet ushers in the second half of its season, Swan Lake<\/em> stands as both a celebration of classical tradition and a testament to the company\u2019s continued growth. Whether you\u2019re returning to the enchanted lake or visiting for the first time, this production offers romance, drama, and artistry that linger long after the final curtain falls.<\/p>\n Performance Schedule:<\/p>\n
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\n<\/ul>\n Swan Lake<\/em>\u00a0is recommended for audiences of all ages. Tickets are on sale now at\u00a0www.nashvilleballet.com\/swan-lake-2526<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Nashville Ballet will host its 37th Annual Ballet Ball on March 7, 2026, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Inspired by Swan Lake<\/em>, the gala will celebrate the Ballet\u2019s 40th Season with an evening of timeless elegance and modern flair. Underwriting opportunities are now available and include access to all Ballet Ball events.<\/p>\n For details, visit NashvilleBallet.com\/ballet-ball<\/a> or email events@nashvilleballet.com.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nA Story That Never Loses Its Power<\/em><\/h3>\n
One Ballet, Two Casts, Infinite Perspectives<\/em><\/h3>\n
The Most Demanding Roles in Classical Ballet<\/em><\/h3>\n
A Company Defined by Community<\/em><\/h3>\n
A Moment Not to Miss<\/em><\/h3>\n
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