Dracula promises ballet with bite

by Jay Boehmer
FOR THE POST

Since Bram Stoker first published his classic vampire tale in 1897, Dracula has gone through a variety of incarnations: Bela Lugosi's unforgettable performance in the classic 1931 film, countless children adorned in plastic fangs and black capes at Halloween and even a sugary-sweet vampire theme cereal, Count Chocula.

For 100 years Dracula has been a permanent fixture of popular culture. If the vampire icon can be infused with something as ridiculous as a children's cereal then why not something as graceful as a ballet? It has and it is coming to Athens.

Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet's performance of Dracula is coming to Ohio University at 8 p.m. Friday at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. The performance is part of the 2000-01 Performing Art Series and is sponsored in part by Hocking Valley Bank.

Since 1998, Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet's ••Dracula•• has been touring the country, wowing both the press and public with its blend of stunning special effects, elaborate costumes, a set designed by Paul Daigle, a haunting original score by Gustav Mahler and graceful dancing choreographed by Mark Godden.

The three-act ballet is an adaptation of Bram Stoker's chilling tale of seduction, horror and blood and combines elements of theater, magic and a wide range of dance styles. "It's ballet with a bite," according to Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Web site, http://www.rwb.org. "Complete with flying bats, dancing gargoyles and mysterious transformations."

"Narratives are always hard to do in dance," said senior dance major and ticket holder for the performance, Ellen Carroll, "I'm curious how they're going to pull off a complex story like Dracula using movement."

Tickets can be purchased at the Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium ticket office from noon to 5 p.m. through Friday. The price is $10 for students and $20 for general admission. Tickets are still available. The theater holds 2,000 people and over 1,200 tickets have been sold for the performance.