Dracula: Bloodlines at Victoria Theatre

Since its 1897 literary debut, the story of Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been told in various forms—in prose, play, movie, opera and, to our delight, ballet. But rarely has anyone explored the backstory of the dark villain, exactly how Dracula came to be. Dayton Ballet’s Dracula: Bloodlines delves into the tale before the world’s most famous vampire emerged.

The horrifying myth of a historical figure named Vlad Tepes, known by many as Vlad the Impaler, a prince in the 15th century in an area near Transylvania, is the perfect place to begin. Act One of Dracula: Bloodlines will focus on this character and the events that led to his transformation into the most well-known vampire in literary history. Act Two will see the emergence of familiar characters of the classic tale of Dracula, including Lucy, Jonathan Harker, Mina, Dr. Van Helsing, and Dracula himself. The intrigue, shadowing, and mystery of this classic tale is the perfect setting for a story ballet in the haunting month of October to bring it all to choreographed life on stage.

The full artistic force of the DPAA will present an unforgettable evening of performing arts filled with drama and beauty fitting to the looming autumn season. With new music written by composer Austin K. Jaquith, professor at Ohio’s own Cedarville University, Dayton Philharmonic fills the Victoria Theatre with a lush score composed specifically for this work. Dayton Ballet Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke has created a magnificent story that her masterful choreography will bring to life on stage with the full force of the Dayton Ballet professional company of athletic and artistic dancers. Costume Designer Ray Zupp, who created the luscious new sets for Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker, will once again lend his originality and inspiration to Dayton Ballet as he designs brand-new costumes for this production to enhance the mystery with visual delight. And guest vocalists from Dayton Opera will share the stage with Dayton Ballet to spotlight the production with gorgeous vocal resonance.

Dayton Ballet shines this October with a story ballet as captivating as the title itself, with an epic collaboration among the three art forms of Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. Do you believe in vampires? Dracula: Bloodlines may show you just how possible it is that these mysterious creatures of the night actually do exist.