Ballet San Antonio to Open Tobin Center Season with DRACULA, 10/16-19

Ballet San Antonio opens its 2014-15 season with Dracula, a much-lauded homegrown work showcasing the artistic breadth of the resident ballet company of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Performances run Oct. 16 through 19.

"We thought it was perfect to open the season in our city's new performing arts hall with a large-scale production created for San Antonio," said Gabriel Zertuche, the company's artistic director. "I worked closely with local artists to create the choreography, costumes and sets, and I have no doubt that balletomanes and audiences new to ballet will be both terrified and thrilled by what they experience."

Zertuche's Dracula is a full-length ballet based on Bram Stoker's chilling classic tale, set to a haunting score by Philip Feeney. With its neo-classical and contemporary choreography and sharply rendered characters, the ballet premiered in 2011 to full theaters. The San Antonio Express-News called it "a fine piece of theater in every regard - choreography, staging and dancing."

This year's Dracula will feature new choreographic touches, and Principals Ian Morris & Sarah Pautz will reprise the leading roles of Dracula and Mina Murray. New corps de ballet member Yanaylet Lopez will take on the role of Lucy Westerna. The sets and costumes by Boerne-based SRO Associates create the dramatic backdrop that reinforces Zertuche's artistic vision.

Zertuche said that Ballet Mistress Amy Fote is particularly central to this year's production. Fote joined Ballet San Antonio earlier this year after retiring as an esteemed principal dancer of Houston Ballet.

"While ballet is very technical and athletic, acting is critical," Zertuche said. "Dracula, for example, is cunning and panther-like in his movements. Amy excels in pulling this artistry from the dancers in order to tell Bram Stoker's story most vividly and passionately."

Ballet San Antonio will stage its four 2014-15 season productions at the Tobin. Following Dracula, the company partners with the San Antonio Symphony to perform the only San Antonio The NutcrackerNov. 28-Dec. 7.On Valentine's Day weekend, Ballet San Antonio and the Symphony collaborate again to stage Romeo and Juliet by award-winning choreographer Ben Stevenson, who is also a Ballet San Antonio advisory board member. In March, the company will perform contemporary works, with a spotlight on Donizetti Variations by George Balanchine, founder of New York City Ballet.

"Our original works as well as the growing number of high-level artistic collaborations validate the strengths of this highly skilled professional ballet company," Zertuche said.

Season tickets for all Ballet San Antonio performances as well as individual tickets are available at the Tobin Center Box Office by calling 210.223.8624 or contacting tickets@tobincenter.org.

For more detailed information about the season performances, visit www.balletsanantonio.org.