Dracula was thrilling, emotional, and visually stunning from beginning to end.
I attended the performance with no prior knowledge of the storyline, which allowed me to fully immerse myself in every twist and turn of the plot. The dancers from WA Ballet brought the narrative to life beautifully alongside the incredible score performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO).
The opening scene set the tone perfectly for the tragic love story that unfolded onstage. It begins with Count Vlad Dracula departing for war, while rumours and heartbreak lead to the death of the love of his life.
So many aspects of this production completely blew me away. From the powerful score by WASO, to the costumes, staging, lighting, and emotional expressions of the dancers.
I especially loved the juxtaposition between Mina’s world and Dracula’s world, and how both the costumes and choreography differed between them. The combination of tango and ballet in the pas de deux between Dracula and Jonathan, Mina’s fiancé in her reincarnated life, was captivating. The corps de ballet in the asylum scene was equally incredible, with the costumes adding to the dramatic intensity and sense of madness portrayed through movement
The skill and strength shown by both dancers portraying Dracula; old Dracula played by Ludovico Di Ubaldo and young Dracula played by Jurgen Rahimi, were phenomenal. The transitions between the two were so seamless that the audience could be heard gasping and asking, “Oh my god, where did he go?”
Although the lead performances were exceptional, my favourite dancer of the night was Lucy, played by Mayume Noguromi. Noguromi showed incredible versatility throughout the performance, transitioning effortlessly from Lucy’s elegant and lively human form to her haunting, vampire-like transformation. I was amazed by how she managed to appear both lifeless and graceful as she glided across the stage almost weightlessly.
This is definitely a ballet worth seeing. Dracula is showing from 15th – 30th May at His Majesty’s Theatre. Be sure to head upstairs before the performance to take in the beautiful balcony views.