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The Detroit Opera House and
Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet present
DRACULA
DETROIT, September 6, 2006…On Thursday, September 28, 2006, the Detroit Opera House will open its 2006/2007 DaimlerChrysler Dance Series with a ballet with bite—Mark Godden's Dracula, danced by Canada's spectacular Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
Burned into the public psyche over the last one hundred years, the name Dracula evokes dread and horror, but most of all, fascination. A legend, a classic novel and the subject of countless movies, the story is now brought to life in the first full-length ballet by Mark Godden.
Godden, one of Canada's foremost young choreographic talents, has firmly rooted his Dracula in the tradition of Bram Stoker's famous novel, but uses expressive dance and a unique sequence of events to tell the chilling tale of Lucy Westenra, Mina Murray, Jonathan Harker and the, now infamous, Count.
The production features exceptional sets and costumes by Paul Daigle, complete with flying bats, dancing, menacing gargoyles and a host of special effects designed to give the contemporary gothic ballet a seductive and powerful appearance. The dancers of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet bring the story to life with masterful artistry, set against music by Gustav Mahler (excerpts from symphonies #1, #2 and #9). Inventive lighting design by David Morrison completes the stage for Dracula's chilling tale.
Elizabeth Miller, Professor Emerita at Memorial University of Newfoundland and internationally recognized Dracula scholar, will host pre-dance discussions at the Detroit Opera House, one hour prior to each performance.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet will also host a special dance master class at the Detroit Opera House, Saturday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. Call (313) 237-3251 for more information.
Tickets for Dracula at the Detroit Opera House, September 28 through October 1 (Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 29 and 30 at 8:00 p.m. and Oct. 1 at 2:00 p.m.), range in price from $28-$100 and are available at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) or online at www.MichiganOpera.org. Tickets are also available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 or online at TicketMaster.com. Patrons attending the Saturday evening performance can receive a $10.00 discount on tickets (at the door) by attending in a Dracula inspired costume.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Founded in 1939 by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet holds the dual distinction of being Canada's premier ballet company and also the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. The company's repertoire embraces a wide range of dance styles, and features works by acclaimed choreographers including Jirí Kylián, George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Hans van Manen and Sir Frederick Ashton, among others.
Under the artistic direction of former Royal Winnipeg Ballet School student and principal dancer Andre Lewis, since 1995, the company has worked to fulfill its founders mandate that its repertoire should encompass a wide range of choreographic styles. By commissioning new works, and pushing artistic limits with productions ranging from Swan Lake to Dracula, The Magic Flute and The Gitagovinda, Lewis has revitalized the company's repertoire and brought the Royal Winnipeg Ballet international acclaim. Though they have appeared in Michigan some 18 times, Dracula will mark the company's Detroit Opera House debut.
Mark Godden
Mark Godden is an established internationally known choreographer. Born in the U. S. but now living in Canada, he has created original works for Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (studio company), Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de MontrÈal, Ballet Florida, Compania National de Danza (Mexico), Ballet Contemporania (Argentina), Ballet Memphis, Alberta Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet British Columbia, Ballet Met, American Repertory Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theater.
He is the permanent guest choreographer with the Harid Dance Conservatory and many of his works have won awards in both Varna, Bulgaria and Helsinki, Finland ballet competitions. His full length Dracula, originally created for Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, was so successful that a made-for TV film (directed by Guy Maddin) won an Emmy for best performing arts film as well as best choreography in the Monaco Film Festival. His latest full length production, The Magic Flute, has gained acclaim from both critics and audiences and has also been produced as a film. Currently Mark is working with Ballet British Columbia (Conversation Piece), Ballet Memphis (Angels in the Architecture) and Milwaukee Ballet (The Magic Flute).
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