Nashville Ballet Presents Anne Frank Story in Dance 11/19, 11/20

Through a relationship with the Tennessee Holocaust Commission and Belmont University, Nashville Ballet will present a new ballet for adolescent, teen and adult audiences inspired by the historic book Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

The 45-minute production of Nashville Ballet's Anne Frank includes a cast of five dancers portraying Peter van Pels, Margot Frank and three metaphorical "sides" to Anne's personality.

"We have such a complex picture of Anne thanks to her openness throughout her diary, that we wanted to provide the audience with a portrait of each component of her personality," Nashville Ballet Director of Artistic Operations Sharyn Mahoney said. "By casting three different dancers as Anne, we can help the audience learn about her conflicting emotions and experiences during her life."

The partnership between Nashville Ballet and the Tennessee Holocaust Commission furthers the Commission's goal to remind citizens that prejudice, hatred and violence, as manifested in the Holocaust and other genocides, leads to the destruction of a humane society.

Funding from the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission allowed Nashville Ballet to host nationally acclaimed choreographer Gina Patterson who illustrated Anne Frank's story through the art of ballet. It also allowed Patterson to collaborate with Belmont University School of Music assistant professor Mark Volker, Ph.D., who composed an original score for the choreographed work. The ballet's premier will feature a live performance of Volker's score by Belmont University students and staff.

Anne Frank will premier to Belmont University's student audience Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. and will debut to the public at a free performance Saturday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in Belmont University's Troutt Theater.

As part of Nashville Ballet's Outreach and Community Engagement initiative, Anne Frank is available to schools and community groups across Tennessee. Host schools and organizations can request that a Holocaust survivor in connection with the Tennessee Holocaust Commission speak to students and audience members in conjunction with an Anne Frank performance.

Nashville Ballet also provides a study guide to further assist educators in discussing this historical event with their students. Anne Frank begins touring to schools and community groups in January 2011.