Paul Vasterling’s choreographic mastery is evident in over 40 creations, ranging from classical full-length ballets to contemporary one-acts and beloved children’s productions. His deep connection to music and commitment to celebrating Nashville’s culture have led to collaborations with renowned musicians and institutions like The Bluebird Cafe, Ben Folds, and Rhiannon Giddens. Under his direction, Nashville Ballet has commissioned 22 original scores for new ballets.
A gifted storyteller, Vasterling has brought to life vivid narratives such as Dracula, Lucy Negro Redux, Romeo and Juliet, Peter Pan, Layla and Majnun, Lizzie Borden, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Carmina Burana, and Nashville’s cherished holiday tradition, Nashville’s Nutcracker. His talents extend beyond ballet, having choreographed for Nashville Children’s Theatre, including the popular Dragons Love Tacos.
Vasterling has also expanded the ballet’s repertoire to include works by iconic choreographers like Salvatore Aiello, George Balanchine, and Twyla Tharp, among many others. He has reimagined classic productions such as Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. His visionary leadership grew Nashville Ballet from 12 to 30 professional dancers, while also significantly increasing the organization’s budget and facilities. Under his guidance, Nashville Ballet toured both nationally and internationally, with performances at the Kennedy Center and the Chautauqua Institution, and tours in Argentina and Switzerland. His original works have been staged by companies worldwide, and Nashville’s Nutcracker aired on television from 2020-2022, earning him Emmy and Telly awards. PBS/Great Performances also filmed his Lucy Negro Redux, which aired nationally in 2022 as Black Lucy and the Bard to widespread acclaim.
Vasterling graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University and has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including a Fulbright award, fellowships from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and several from the National Endowment for the Arts. He is a Fellow at The Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University and has been honored with awards such as the Nashville Theatre Honors First Night Award (2013), Nashville’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year (2017), and Studio Tenn’s Legacy Award (2024).
In June 2023, Vasterling was named Artistic Director Emeritus of Nashville Ballet. He continues to stage and coach his works at Nashville Ballet while pursuing new creative projects, including the physical theater work An Ambivalent Woman of 37 by Emma Sandall and directing and choreographing for Studio Tenn Theater’s Cabaret.