VSA Partners With Area Arts Organizations

By Lori Kissinger, Executive Director, VSA Tennessee –

VSA Tennessee is excited to be part of one of the most unique partnerships we have ever done. The partnership starts with the Frist Center for the Visual Arts who asked us to be a partner on the Nick Cave exhibit that is coming to the Frist in November. To connect with them, teaching artist Dee Kimbrell has been working with some of our Teapot Diplomats to make costumes that are in the same style as Nick Cave’s work. These costumes will be worn by our dance company, the Movement Connection in an opening for the exhibit. The Teapot Diplomats include Austin King, Hope McKee and Torie Summers.

However, the partnership does not end there. The Nashville Ballet is choreographing and working with the Movement Connection Dancers under the artistic direction of our Movement Connection director, Danielle Clement and Nashville Ballet choreographer, Shabaz Ujima. The Movement Connection Dancers include Cat Bernstein, Adam Boyd, Grace Dodd, Bella Forrester, Caty Garrett, Nelia Jobe, Anna Kirby, Rebecca Ledford, Meghan Maynard and Keonna Reed

No, we are not finished yet. The dancers will dance to live music performed by our Young Soloist musicians who will be working with Kristen Freeman of the Nashville Symphony. The musicians are Tyler Samuel, 2017 TN Young Soloist 1st place winner; Drew Basham, 2017 Young Soloist 2nd place winner; Allie Hemmings, 2017 Young Soloist 3rd place winner; Gregory Price Stallings, 2016 Young Soloist 2nd place winner; and Sarah Franklin.

And our final partner, Nashville State Community College is providing the space for the Young Soloists to rehearse with the Nashville Symphony. The performance will be on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 5:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Frist.

This amazing partnership is supported through a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission.