Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)
Publication Date
Spring 3-25-2024
College
O'More College of Architecture and Design
Department
Architecture
BURS Faculty Advisor
Anthony Monica
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Ballet has long been a spectacle for the select few, and hence, is an art form often misunderstood by the 99%. The architectural language surrounding ballet reflects this exclusivity, often taking the form of uninviting classical-style buildings. In this way, the gesture of ballet and the space it attends is one of sequestration rather than invitation. The mission of this design for the new location to host the Nashville ballet and Nashville Ballet School then must be to pull back the curtain: the curtain between the art form and the community, between the process and the performance, and finally, between the dancer and the audience.
This charge is accomplished in multiple ways across the project, the most compelling being a two-story glass jewel box that hangs gracefully over a plaza, supported by the steel core and fly tower of the performance studio. Through its face, the extensive preparation that goes into every move of a performance is on display. Dancer’s silhouettes glide along the facade, unveiling the devotion formerly unseen by the public. Four spans of chromicized steel drift across the same facade transforming both interior and exterior spaces and reflecting the vivid colors ornamenting Nashville’s Broadway. They steel curtains isolate important views and, under special circumstances, retreat from the facade altogether, spanning across the pedestrian walkway. In their extended position, the screens create a visual linkage between the Nashville Symphony, the TPAC, and the Nashville Ballet, effectively transforming the space between them into a performance art conglomerate. The curtains become backdrops for public exhibitions on the walkway and more intimate productions on the terrace. Above all, the pulling back of the curtains directs focus to the interior of the jewel box, working to elevate the process and reveal on the rigor behind the poise.
Recommended Citation
Curry, Samuel R. and Lamberth, Rebekah J., "Redesigning The Nashville Ballet" (2024). Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS). 357.
https://repository.belmont.edu/burs/357
