Vampires, Ballet, and the Count
(Photos by Jeannette M. Porrazzo)
Oley Dedugryuk rehearses the bite scene with Chauncey Parsons for the ballet "Dracula," to kick off the Colorado Ballet's Fall 2004 season.
by Travis Combs
The Metropolitan
Mehri Paydar and a partner practice key steps for "Dracula."
Dracula is preparing to dance. The stage has been turned into an ancient keep where the Count spends his days in the death-like womb of a black coffin and his nights gluttonously drinking from the veins of mortals. Born in 1897 and transformed on countless occasions through countless medium, Count Dracula has metamorphosed from the literary mind of nineteenth-century author Bram Stoker into a film star and theater actor, and is now permanently infused into legendary status in the modern age.
Now Dracula has learned to dance-his latest incarnation manifesting in the ballet called, simply, "Dracula." The world's most famous vampire pirouettes, moving with the grace only a ballet dancer can. Epic and intense symphonic music underscores his every step as the Count stretches and moves through his classic story.
The cast of "Dracula" holds a wolf prop during a recent rehearsal.
The Colorado Ballet has captured Count Dracula and his
world and is preparing to release him to the public: featuring dancers
Egor Vassin and Meelis Pakri playing the role of the Count under the
choreographic direction of Michael Pink with musical score by Philip
Feeny. Dracula will once again have an opportunity to capture the imaginations
of the masses, expressing himself and his world in an entirely new way.
"It's expression put through the body," said
ballet dancer, Sharon Wehner, talking about the graceful expression
of the human condition through dance. "Sometimes feelings cannot
be put into words," said Wehner, who will be playing opposite Vassin.
The Count is also a reasonably good bet for financial
profit and The Colorado Ballet expects good attendance.
"(Dracula) markets to a lot of people," said
Wehner. "Ballet markets to a different crowd and putting Dracula
to dance can be really powerful."
"Dracula" will run Oct. 9 through Nov. 7 at
the Buell Theatre.
Tickets range from $24 to $85 and may be purchased at
www.coloradoballet.org or www.denvercenter.org.
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