YOU COULD WIN $100
The Round One Winner has been Chosen and received her prize!
Read her winning review below, then scroll down to find out how YOU can win!
CLICK HERE for Rules, Guidelines, Tips, and Vocab suggestions! !
The winner of Round One of the WATCH DANCE WIN $100 STUDENT REVIEWER CONTEST is Isabel Duplantier. She is a senior in high school and studies dance at Patzius Performing Arts. Read Isabel’s review below, and join us in congratulating her on her great writing!
Ballet Met Columbus was thrilling, erotic, and provocative. Their Dracula, choreographed by David Nixon, was a highly theatrical and dramatic version of the classic gothic horror novel by Bram Stoker -- the perfect Halloween performance!
Nixon's contemporary ballet, also partly inspired by the film with Béla Lugosi, focused on "images, thoughts, and emotions." The beautiful sets, costumes, and lighting all enhanced the contrasts of the ballet; light and shadow, living and dead; the engagement party, decorated in bright colors and filled with liveliness and the darkness of Dracula's first appearance as he emerges from his coffin.
An eerie atmosphere was achieved with a collection of haunting, erotic, and occasionally violent pieces of music and sounds such as galloping horses and the fluttering of bat wings.
Jimmy Orrante created the title role and has become known for his portrayal of the Count. His performance Saturday night was powerful and his coordination with the cape, creating stunning lines and bat-like movements, was fantastic. Nixon's Count Dracula is more feeling and romantic than Stoker's character. "Dracula is viewed as an evil, preying character, but he knows love and will act upon it," says Nixon. This is seen, when the Count begins to fall in love with Mina (Adrienne Benz), his next victim, during the passionate pas de deux.
Jeff Wolfe was feisty and spunky as Renfield, the vampire's pet, one of my personal favorites. His aggressive moves while feasting on insects were a delight and the audience felt pity for the character. Just as entertaining were the seductive brides of Dracula, Annie Mallonee, Emily Gotschall, and Emily Ramirez. Their dancing in flat shoes produced a more earthy effect.
The ballet contained fantastic special effects. Some great illusions were the staking and beheading of Lucy, Dracula disappearing from underneath the bed sheet, and finally Dracula's death, disappearing into the wall as his cape fell to the ground.
Ballet Met's Dracula was a spectacular performance. Will Dance St. Louis continue to bring such quality shows and opportunities to St. Louis? You can "count" on it!
