Dracula

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

Wait a minute… Dracula and ballet? Seems to me they would go together like a vampire and sunlight. Well, that’s what I thought the last time Colorado Ballet produced Dracula. That, and the fact two other theatre’s were producing their own versions of Dracula. One being quite original and the other leaving much to be desired, leaving me “Dracula’d” out. I was warned I would regret the decision to abstain, and oh how they were right.

I made up for it opening night, and although I have seen several spectacular Colorado Ballet productions, for spellbinding magic, Dracula oversees the top of the list.

Sharing the role of Dracula in alternating performances are Igor Vassin and Meelis Pakri. On opening night, Vassin took my breath away, knocking me out. His physical strength, power, athletic prowess and magnetism permeated his stage presence. Even in the shadows his Dracula presence commanded the crawling of the spine. I cannot fathom anyone in the ballet world with more perfect dance technique than Vassin. As a dancer he is a marvel to watch. As Dracula he is scary as hell, scary because of his physical and emotional power. This is one Dracula I would not wish to meet. I’d follow him anywhere, which, after all, is Dracula’s point.

Based on Bram Stoker’s original story, Michael Pinks authoritative choreography, Philip Feeney’s unnerving score and Lez Brotherston’s imaginative set and costume design extends the stage beyond the apron to engulf the entire Buell Theatre. No small trick. The performance so commanding and deliberate one cannot help but feel a part of the story. The dancers don’t just dance parts in ballet form, and Dracula costumes, they have wedded the dance to the characters.

Haunting special effects provide haunting special affects onto the entire theatre.

Jonathan Harker (Koichi Kubo, Chauncey Parsons) a young solicitor travels to Transylvania to meet Count Dracula on business, and gets a full in-your-face education on vampires. Traumatized nightmares springs to life with wolves poison, blood, demons and ghosts. The visual effect mesmerizing.

Harker’s wife Mina provides solace and comfort. Sharon Wehner and Maria Mosina share the role. On opening night Kubo and Wehner danced as one exposing their poignant predicament. Wehner gave Mina emotional strength to the distraught Harker with delicate ballet. Awesome combination.

Lucy, Mina’s close beautiful vivacious and vulnerable friend is wide open to Dracula’s enchantment, falling under his ghoulish entrapment. Maria Mosina and Chandra Gercke share the role. Mosina so compelling, one wants to verbally warn her, knowing all along it would fall on deaf ears.

A near showstopper in his own right, Renfield, a mental patient in the sanitarium where several plan their attack on Dracula moves with anguished grace and style. Andrew Thompson shares the role with Kubo. Thompson so persuasive, with his constant fitful movement attracts attention even in the shadows. He has the dance of a caged animal.

Gregory Gonzales takes on the persona of Dr. Van Helsing who consults with Lucy, owns a working fearful knowledge of vampires, and organizes the hunt for Dracula before Mina becomes his next victim. A Colorado Ballet favorite, Gonzales dances with determination, his blood pulsating in the danger with strong, smooth ballet perfection.

Dracula’s demise is nearly as dramatic and startling as the disappearance of the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.

Bravo to Colorado Ballet for bringing the unforgettable startling and beautiful ballet engagingly to life. This is one ballet no student of ballet or wannabe student should miss. This is ballet at its finest. Even the most died in the wool macho sports enthusiast will marvel at the strength, power and beauty of these incredible dancers. The Olympic Greek Gods have nothing on this company. With a $6 million dollar budget, Colorado Ballet is one of the ten largest dance companies in the United States. To miss this production is a crime of the heart. Dracula waits, in the shadows, but he waits.