Ballet San Antonio Stages Dracula at the Tobin Center

Ballet San Antonio staged a two-act Dracula at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Antonio, performing a story drawn from Bram Stoker's novel and Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film adaptation. The production runs as a love story, stripped down to the romance popularized by the film.

The first act opened on a Transylvanian castle. Principal dancer Aidan Carrasquel appeared as Dracula in a long black and red cape, surrounded by vampire servants in sheer white and purple. Soloist Luciano Perotto entered as Jonathan Harker, in a brown vest and hat, thinking of his beloved Mina, played by principal dancer Buse Babadag. The choreography is by Roberto Forleo and Katie Simpson.

Mina then appeared in an imaginary sequence, in a long white gown. Harker left his desk, and Dracula read his letters to Mina and grew enamored of her, a feeling different from Harker's. Dracula later separated Harker from the servants, danced with him in a taunting manner, and bit him, leaving him badly injured.

The set changed to an asylum, where soloist Aidan Moss, as Dr. Seward, took in the bitten Harker. Dracula and Harker shared another dance, and Dracula bit Jonathan several times before leaving him there.

The second act moved the story to England. It opened on a ballroom, with Dracula's servants in cardinal red and crimson, all wearing masks, including a horned mask on Dracula, who wore a light red cape. Mina attended in a white gown with red blood running down to her waist. She and Dracula shared a long dance, and she surrendered to him. Harker arrived, disgusted, and the ballet ended with Jonathan staking Dracula, who fell dead into Mina's arms as she cried out.

The score added intensity to the performance. The production was staged in the days leading up to Halloween.