Bram Stoker published his iconic novel Dracula in 1897. By 1897, the story was turned into a ballet for the Budapest Opera. Since then, there have been at least a dozen different ballet versions of Dracula. The most popular today is the ballet choreographed by Ben Stevenson for the novel's centennial in 1997, with music by Franz Lizst. The clip above shows the Richmond Ballet's performance of Stevenson's ballet just this past weekend. The production pumps up the supernatural with dancers flying through the air.
David Nixon choreographed a version of Dracula at BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, in 1999. Here's a clip from a 2014 performance by the Northern Ballet based in Leeds, UK.
Mark Godden's 1999 version was so popular that it resolved the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's financial woes.
In 2002, it was adapted into a film titled Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary. The film was shot in silent movie style.
If that clip intrigues you, the entire movie is available at YouTube.
Why is Dracula such a popular ballet? I believe it is because the medium of dance allows the production to step away from realism just enough to sink into the sensuality of the story. Nothing is held back for the sake of believability, in the sets, the music, the special effects, and especially in the interactions of the dancers. Besides, where else are you going to see flying vampires live on stage? If you ever have a chance to see any of the many ballet versions of Dracula, don't let it pass you by. -via Metafilter