Royal Winnipeg Ballet to Bring DRACULA to Lehman Center This November

CANADA'S ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET appears for the first time at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts performing DRACULA on Sunday, November 13th, 2016 at 6pm. Produced by Lehman Center.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for DRACULA on Sunday, November 13th, 2016 at 6pm are $75* VIP, $45, $40, and $25 and can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Monday through Thursday, 10am-5pm, and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert), or through online access at www.LehmanCenter.org.

*New This Season: HAVANA CAFÉ and Lehman Center special VIP pre-concert wine & hors d'oeuvres reception starting at 6:30pm. VIP tickets include the reception and the best seats in the house. At the reception meet other patrons and the staff of Lehman Center. Sponsored by Havana Café Restaurant and Havana Club Puerto Rican Rum. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway. Low-cost on-site parking available for $5.

CANADA'S ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET is Canada's premier ballet company and one of the oldest ballet companies in North America. Versatility, technical excellence and a unique style are their trademark. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company has performed in over 581 cities and 44 countries worldwide. "Dracula" is brought to life as Royal Winnipeg Ballet appears at Lehman Center for the first time! A legend, a classic novel, the subject of countless movies and burnt into the public psyche over the past one hundred years, the Dracula name evokes dread and horror but, most of all, fascination. Set to a glorious score by Gustav Mahler, with opulent sets and costumes, this dark fantasy is faithful to Bram Stoker's gothic novel, brimming with passion and fearful suspense. The ballet is complete with flying bats, dancing gargoyles, and mysterious transformations.

ANDRÉ LEWIS | Artistic Director André Lewis has spent the majority of his career with Canada's first professional Dance Company, accepting the position of artistic director in 1996. Since then he has dramatically rejuvenated the Company's repertoire. A native of Gatineau, Québec, Lewis began his dance training in Ottawa before being accepted into theProfessional Division of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in 1975. He joined the RWB Company in 1979 where he enjoyed an accomplished career as a dancer for over ten years. Lewis has commissioned numerous blockbuster ballets such as Mark Godden's Dracula in 1998 and Moulin Rouge - The Ballet in 2009. He was instrumental in the 1999 creation of a new Nutcracker for the Company and in 2002, Lewis brought to Winnipeg the thrilling and passionate Carmina Burana by Argentinean choreographer Mauricio Wainrot. As part of RWB's 75th Anniversary season, Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation was created. In addition to his position as artistic director, Lewis is a sought-after ballet instructor

MARK GODDEN | Choreographer born in the United States and now living in Canada, has created original works for Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (studio company), Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet Florida, Ballet Memphis, Ballet British Columbia, Ballet Met, American Repertory Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theater and Ballet Gamonet. Many ofGodden's ballets have won awards; his Myth and La Princesse et le Soldat, won Top Honors in the international ballet competitions of Varna, Bulgaria and Helsinki, Finland. He is a recipient of the notable Choo-San Goh Award and Godden's full-length ballet Dracula was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award. Dracula was adapted for film in 2001 (directed byGuy Maddin) and won an Emmy Award for best Performing Arts Film and was awarded Best Choreography at The Monaco Film Festival.

PAUL DIAGLE | Costume Designer has a first-hand understanding of the intricacies of designing for dance. A graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Daigle went on to perform for two seasons with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet prior to launching his career in design in 1988. Daigle has established a very creative and productive relationship with choreographer Mark Godden designing the scenery and costumes for Godden's first full-length ballet, Dracula.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council. The 2016-2017 Season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding is provided by Con Edison, the New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, the Rudin Foundation, the Hyde and Watson Foundation, and the friends of Lehman Center.