Dracula

Fifteen Century, Walachia: the Ottoman Empire and the Balkans fought to control the lands. From this scenario raises the legendary story of Prince Vlad Dracul III (Dracula) of the order of the Dragon. Between fact and fiction, Chiara Ajkun’s ballet is an epic tale of passion, heroism, betrayal and war featuring Dracula’s explosive fights with Mehmet The Conqueror and his intense love nights with Mina. Not your usual vampire…

This performance is part of the Theater Series.

Choreography & Libretto: Chiara Ajkun (world premiere 2016)

Music (in alphabetical order): Arabic Ottoman Folk Music of Aleppo, Luca Antonini, Ivan Bertolla, Eric Buffat, Francesco De Leonardis, Guido Gavazzi, Philip Glass, Jesper Kyd, Fabrizio Martini, Eric Neveux, and Lindsey Stirling.

No intermission. Attendees must have a ticket. No sales at the door.

For inquiries about the shows, please email [email protected] or call 1(347) 346-9951.

Chiara Ajkun’s Ballet Synopsis: The truths, the legend, the myths, and the magic inspired Chiara Ajkun to create the original Dracula ballet, a realistic story of Prince Vlad Dracul III, son of the dragon, his wife Mina, and his enemy, Sultan Mehmet II The Conqueror.

Dracula ‘s salah (Islamic prayer) is disrupted by the sudden evocation of his Devşirme captivity. His struggle over divided loyalties is over, and Vlad will aggress against the Ottomans.

Trusting wolves for his home safety, Dracula bids farewell to Mina before going off to the battlefield to stop Mehmet’s advance in the Balkans. Mina welcomes a new chambermaid, unaware that The Maid is an Ottoman spy.

The armies clash, and Dracula faces Mehmet. Vlad wounds but fails to assassinate the Sultan. Mehmet and the Ottomans camp, and a defeated Dracula retreats. The ill premonition of an Ottoman soldier pushes Mehmet to send an Envoy to negotiate.

Dracula surprises Mina in her chamber, and their love ignites a fire of passion, laughter, and dreams of conquest.

The Envoy, led by the Sultan and the Emir, arrives. Dracula is growing wary of the Maid and forces the Emir to expose her.

Negotiations are abruptly interrupted by Mina’s affliction. Certain that Mina’s death has been caused by the Emir’s dealings, Dracula spirals into madness. Mehmet escapes and Dracula kills the Envoy. The legend carries on.

Leading Dancers: and (original cast)

Cast: Ajkun Ballet Theatre | www.ajkunbt.org

Background: Historic events and legends surround Prince Vladimir Dracul III (1431-1476) of Transylvania. Before becoming Voivode (prince) of Walachia, Vlad III was born into a noble family and, following his father’s appointment in the Order of Dragons, nicknamed Dracula (son of dragon). Dracula was raised by the Ottoman court to be a military strategic leader and a skilled warrior but held enmity for the Ottomans. A lifelong series of campaigns to regain his father’s seat are background for Dracula’s atrocities. Dracula attempted to assassinate Sultan Mehmed The Conqueror to deter the pursuit by The Ottomans. Dracula ‘s wife, whose name is not recorded, died during Mehmed siege of the castle. It is believed that Dracula was killed in battle near Bucharest. The legacy and legend of Dracula is mostly the result of tales passed down for generations since the XIV century. Although Dracula was certainly an exceptionally cruel ruler, Romanian tales depict him as a fiercely honest prince who defended his people from foreign aggression and a champion of the common man against the oppression of the boyars. There are tales on foreign envoys (Florentine or Ottomans) brutally killed at dinner for some real or imagined insult, on Dracula subduing wild wolves into his unwavering guard and omen of prophetic significance. Romanian folklore and poetry paints Dracula as "undying hero who in the moment of need will rise up and save the Romanian nation from destruction" and this may have inspired, among others Vampire’s tales, Bram Stoker's epistolary novel Dracula (1897).

Host or Publisher Ajkun BalletTheatre