March 12: ‘Little Dancer’ comes to life

She stands, endlessly posed, one foot in front of the other, her hands crossed at the back and the head uplifted with an indescribable expression of simultaneous indifference and audacity.

On March 12 at 7 p.m., the Nashville Ballet Company will bring Degas’ famous sculpture to life at South Jackson Civic Center. Tickets for the one-hour performance of “Degas and the Little Dancer” are $8 for adults and $6 for students. Reservations may be made by calling South Jackson’s reservation line at (931) 455-5321 or by visiting www.southjackson.org.

The evening before the performance, Ballet Master Classes will be offered on three levels for local dancers – Beginner, ages 10, 11 and 12, from 4 to 5 p.m.; Intermediate, ages 12, 13 and 14, from 5 to 6:15 p.m.; and Advanced, ages 15 and above, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Advance registration and payment of a $20 fee is necessary for participation.

Directed by Paul Vasterling, “Degas and the Little Dancer” is a new season offering based on the children’s book by the same name written by Laurence Anholt. The tale of the friendship that arises between the impoverished 14-year-old girl and the cantankerous old painter unfolds in the beauty of the dance. Although little Marie van Gothen fails to realize her dream of becoming a famous dancer, she is forever immortalized in Degas’ renowned sculpture “La Petite Danseuse.” The performance is enhanced by art work from the Impressionistic era.

Funding for the performance as well as South Jackson’s Outreach Series is provided in part by Southern Arts Federation and State of Tennessee Art Commission’s /National Endowment for the Arts Touring Arts Grants.