For a first timer to the ballet, I was privileged to see Dracula - my heart pounded the entire time... I was literally blown away!!!! I was captivated by all that I seen and heard, loved it and will return again and again. An outstanding production from beginning to end. The dancers had my attention at first, but in minutes they stole my heart and made a ballet lifer out of me. I only wish I could have been in the pit as the music is being presented - during a performance. Breath taking, stunning, ultimately beautiful how does one describe something that leaves you emotionally, mentally, physically, and hearing, stunned for an entire peformance????? Excellent Performance on closing of Dracula... Thank You One and All James A. Espinoza

My brother and I have been blessed to see each Colorado Ballet production of Dracula. We love the music and libretto tells the story in an efficient manner. And given the scope of decades of retelling the story of Dracula, I find this interpretation as faithful to Stoker’s novel as one could hope for. The music is outstanding. The athleticism of the principles cannot be denied. Harker, Mina, Lucy, all were excellent. Dracula left a little to be desired. The earlier productions had Dracula in a much more fluid approach to the dance. The 2022 Dracula seemed put strength ahead of the fluidity of the movement. But still excellent. It is a thrilling show, but I may be becoming a bit jaded. I’d like to see an updating of costumes and scenery. The lighting seemed a bit off from previous productions. But these are minor complaints. I would be happy to seen this production many times over. Thank you for a stirring night.

My wife and I were fortunate to have seen the first performance of Dracula by the Colorado Ballet in 2001 which we found (along with pretty much everyone else) to be an incredible show. We've not seen any of the intervening productions, but found this presentation to be a little flat. First, the good. The staging, sets, lighting, and effects are marvelous. The overall appearance is able to evoke anticipation, mystery, dread. One would love to see what these people could do with one of Denver's haunted house attractions! The orchestra, too, was excellent. I didn't always agree with the composers' choices but they were beautifully rendered by these musicians. I especially liked some nuanced trombone work as well as a rich cello. There were several parts of the ballet where I felt the music was carrying the production more than the visuals on stage. I have two primary complaints about the production; one of them is the length. I realize that it "wants" to be presented in three acts, but I believe it would be stronger, and even more compelling presented as two acts instead. All three of the company dances are too long, in my opinion. Cutting 5 minutes from each of them would not affect the story in any way, and cutting out the second 20 minute intermission would send us all home 35 minutes earlier without suffering any loss in entertainment value. My major criticism is with the costuming, which I believe is a source of pride for the Company, but I find to be much too distracting and masking great performances. Unlike other artists such as painters, musicians, or writers, dancers must also be athletes. Their amazing abilities in both beauty of shape and movement are almost totally covered up by their period costuming (with the partial exception of the bellboy and Dracula). If this were an opera these costumes would be part of the show, a good part. But this is dance and the costumes are a tremendous hindrance to appreciating the dancers' abilities. Just as the stage sets are able to suggest much more, I believe much more minimal outfitting would benefit both the dancers and the audiences' ability to appreciate them. Overall, it's still wonderful to watch the efforts of so many people- both on stage as well as below and behind the stage come together to put such a production together for our entertainment and enlightenment!