Review: Ballet Arkansas' DRACULA at PTC-CHARTS Takes Ballet to the Next Level Through Multimedia Effects

Arkansas is blessed to have a professional ballet of this caliber right here in the capital city. Just hearing the title DRACULA lets you know that this is not your ordinary tutu-wearing, Lords-a-dancing ballet. This was much more. Ballet Arkansas went above and beyond with this production at UA-PTC CHARTS in North Little Rock, October 20-23, 2022.

Broadway World is thrilled when there is more to it than the actual show. We love the whole immersive experience as you step into the doors. For the Friday night production, Ballet Arkansas teamed up with Colonial Wine and Spirits (colonialwineshop.com) for a complimentary cocktail appropriately named Vampire's Kiss. We were told it was Tito's Vodka, Raspberry Liquor, and lemon juice. I thought it was so delicious, I went back for seconds. Also, Ballet Arkansas was having a costume contest. The winner received two season tickets for the rest of the ballet season. I do not know who the winner is, but I am a little jealous, since I really want to go to the NUTCRACKER SPECTACULAR in December.

The coolness of this experience continued as you entered the auditorium. While finding your seat, they had creepy, vampires may be hiding in the corners of the theatre kind of music. None of them actually jumped out, which is good, because after my Vampire's Kisses, I'm pretty sure I would have lost that fight.

As the show began, the movie screen backdrop gave a synopsis of each scene (similar to how Star Wars opens), played a pre-recorded video of the characters acting out the drama, and had the background of the different locales. They also had some really cool surround sound for the train and other effects. The music was a mixture of classical piano and dramatic horror music. They even had a jump scare, which was warned in the beginning with a laugh, but I still was not ready.

With Original Choreography by Michael Fothergill, the story itself was an abbreviated version of the Bram Stoker's classic. The opening scene in Act I has Jonathan Harker (Matthew Larson-Arziari) departing for Transylvania. His fiancé Mina Murray (Meredith Loy) is there, as well as her friend Lucy Westenra (Brittany Harano) and other train people (Deanna Stanton, Celeste Lopez-Keranen, Layla Terrell, and Lauren Yordanich). Lucy tries to cheer her up, but eventually runs off with her own fiancé, Lord Arthur Holmwood (David Cummings). R.M. Renfield (Andrew Parson) is then introduced in his own asylum dance, which was really good. I'm not a ballet expert, but I thought the interpretation of a crazy person was spot on. Johnathan arrives at Castle Dracula where he is greeted by Count Dracula (Aldrin Vendt) and later by the three vampiresses (Leah Norwine, Kerridwyn Schanck, and Sage Feldges).

Act II escalates the story. Count Dracula and the vampiresses feed off of Jonathan and goes after Mina. Lucy throws a party, once again trying to cheer up Mina, but then Lucy is captured and turned into the undead. Dr. Abraham Van Helsing (Andrew Przbylowicz) makes an appearance, and eventually talks the men into killing Lucy, which gives Mina more reason to be upset. The gang make plans to vanquish Count Dracula, and then in the final battle scene, the deed is done.

Everything was so creative and beautiful. The dancers were graceful and expressive with their characters. A friend even went as far as calling Dracula "a star," and I have to agree. Vendt embraced his inner vampire and committed to it throughout the performance. And one of my favorite scenes was the group dancing between the vampiresses and the men. That was so much fun to watch.

I have never experienced a show quite like what Ballet Arkansas brought to the CHARTS stage. The combination of the multimedia use, the music, the dancing, and the extras throughout the evening made for a fabulous Halloween celebration that will be remembered for a long time.

For more information about upcoming events and classes with Ballet Arkansas, visit their website at www.balletarkansas.org.

Thank you to Melissa Dooley Photography for the use of these beautiful photos.

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