I know nothing about ballet, the only other one I have seen is the 1999 pacific ballet version of midsummer nights dream. Which was interesting and amazing to see what humans can do with much practice and talent. But the camerawork and production quality wasn't great and it seemed very formal. This ballet version of Dracula on the other hand feels very contemporary, excellent production and camerawork so you can see in great detail all that is going on. It is also much more what I would have called interpretive dance than what I would think is more formal classical ballet. This made it more accessible to a modern lay viewer. The sets were fantastic and the choice of music also brilliant. Both made an exceptional gothic tone the likes of which many filmic version of Dracula struggle to get right. As I know nothing about ballet I don't really understand what I'm watching but there were moments during this where I for the first time really felt like I understood what ballet aims to do. I really felt the beauty in some of the pictures they painted with their bodies and expressions. The biggest takeaway is that I think perhaps that of all the million and one players to have played Dracula, the led dancer in this javier Torres may actually be my favourite Dracula. He is a large muscular man with commanding stage presence and a dark sexual gothic energy. If I met him I would shake his hand on congratulate him.
