Bram Stoker’s classic novel, Dracula, written in 1897, is one of those literary gifts that keep on giving, the offerings this time coming in the form of a critically acclaimed ballet, and a gifted Kazkahstani in the leading role, reports the Astana Times.
Last night marked the Scottish premiere of the show, and the first appearance of the respected dancer, Bakhtiyar Adamzhan, whose talent also brought the production to life in the British capital, London, earlier in the week.
Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre will stage Dracula until the evening of 14 June, giving Scottish ballet fans the chance to marvel at the skills of the Principal Dancer of the Astana Opera, a decorated performer of the highest order.
Honoured Artist of the Republic Bakhtiyar Adamzhan was born in Saryozek, in the Almaty Region, and since graduating from the Seleznev Almaty Choreographic School in 2011, has risen to become one of the very elite of his art.
His latest offering, lapped up by audiences at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, is a contemporary production of Dracula, featuring classical elements of dance, all with a more modern interpretation.
Choreographer Joel Burke created the masterpiece by combining various aspects of dance with music by Bach, Rachmaninov, and Tchaikovsky, as well as Jason Fernandez, who contributed the original score.
The show is said to be very demanding, not just in the sense that the performers need to be technically perfect as dancers, but also as actors, because the lead character is portrayed, not as a vampire in the Christopher Lee sense, but a man motivated to revenge by sorrow when his wife is executed.
According to the Mihailovsky Theatre, Bakhtiyar Adamzhan has an impressive CV, including stints performing in Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Spartacus by AI Khachaturian, his achievements propelling him not only to international renown but also to his current role in the Astana Opera. His success is also said to have been built not merely on the back of his ability, but so too on his presence on the stage, which has earned him a reputation globally as one of the leading dancers of his genre.
