Nashville Ballet to hose Open House for the entire family at The Martin Center
Celebrate National Dance Day With an Exclusive Sneak Peek into the Captivating World of the Ballet on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Nashville Ballet is opening its doors to the community for a free, family-friendly Open House on Saturday, September 20, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Martin Center for Nashville Ballet (3630 Redmon Street, Nashville, TN 37209).
Guests of all ages are invited to step behind the curtain and experience the artistry, athleticism, and magic that make Nashville Ballet one of the city’s cultural treasures. The Open House will feature interactive activities, behind-the-scenes tours, complimentary performances, and exclusive previews of the upcoming Ruby Season repertoire.
Highlights include:
- Season Sneak Peek Presentation (12 p.m.) by Artistic Director & CEO Nick Mullikin, previewing Nashville Ballet’s dazzling Ruby Season celebrating 40 years of dance.
- Live Rehearsal Observations featuring excerpts from If I Can Dream, Rubies, Sherlock, White Swan Pas, and NB2.
- Swan Lake Story Time for Kids (11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m.).
- Interactive Dance Classes for all ages including Adult Ballet, Jazz/Contemporary/Musical Theatre Fusion, and DanceFix with National Dance Day choreography.
- Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Martin Center, including costume and set studios.
- Inside the Ballet Podcast Recording with a Live Audience featuring artists and cultural experts.
- Arts & Crafts for Kids (on-going).
- NB2 Rehearsal Viewing (12:15 – 2 p.m.).
The celebration also coincides with National Dance Day, giving the community an opportunity to honor Nashville Ballet’s 40-year commitment to free arts programming. To make dance even more accessible, adult class passes will be offered at a 50% discount during the event.
Season highlights for the Ruby Season include:
- If I Can Dream by Travis Bradley
- Balanchine’s sparkling Rubies
- Jiří Kylián’s haunting Un Ballo
- The thrilling finale Sherlock from the acclaimed Attitude series
- Two bold contemporary works: Donald Byrd’s Wake the Neighbors and Maria Konrad’s DEA
- Holiday favorite Nashville’s Nutcracker and the timeless Swan Lake
Select performances will feature live music by the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony at TPAC.
Additional Open House events include a Blood Assurance Blood Drive (10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., bus outside Martin Center) and a clearance merchandise sale in the Multipurpose Room (11 a.m.–2 p.m.).
Admission is free, and no registration is required. Families are encouraged to come and go throughout the day. Staff from Nashville Ballet’s School, Shop, and Box Office will be on hand to answer questions about season performances, school enrollment, and merchandise.
The Open House is hosted in partnership with the Tennessee Association of Dance and Dance Tennessee Day.
