CAMAGÜEY — The Ballet of Camagüey resumed performances of Dracula this weekend at the Teatro Principal, as part of the Cuban Culture Week celebrations. However, Sunday’s show had to be canceled due to persistent rains caused by a trough over the territory.

The piece — choreographed by Norbe Risco under the general direction of Regina María Balaguer — returned to the stage following its premiere earlier this summer. Dracula stands among the company’s most complex productions in recent years, both for the scale of its set design and for the interpretive depth it demands from its dancers.

Beyond the classical ballet technique, the work relies heavily on body language and theatrical expression, requiring the performers to sustain the story’s dramatic tension with gestures akin to acting. The production involves meticulous stage work, combining lighting, sound effects, and atmosphere to recreate the haunting universe of Bram Stoker’s novel.

In Saturday’s performance, the title role of the Count was danced by Iradiel Rodríguez, joined by Idalenis Martínez, Javier Ramírez, Grettel Martínez, and a group of young dancers who embraced the challenge of a piece where dance and drama intertwine to sustain the narrative.

The company will travel this week to Bayamo, invited to perform at the Fiesta de la Cubanía, where Dracula will be presented on October 19th, followed by a gala concert the next day featuring works by National Dance Award winner José Antonio Chávez.

Upon returning to Camagüey, the troupe will dedicate its October 25th and 26th performances at the Teatro Principal to honor the 55th artistic anniversary of Maestro Chávez — a key figure in the company’s history and a pillar of Cuban dance.

Thus, amid artistic rigor and the challenges of the moment, the Ballet of Camagüey reaffirms its presence on the national stage, upholding a repertoire that continues to blend theatricality and the tradition of the Cuban ballet school.

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez