Published September 20, 2024

SNB’s DRACULA-The Ballet features Two Top Charismatic Star Male Dancers 

by Rosine Bena

Ballet is considered one of the great classic art forms and is the only art form made OF people. The dancer’s body is the only instrument used to create the art of ballet. While that may seem insignificant to some, it is extremely important to many practitioners, connoisseurs, and even critics of the art form. 

The professional ballet dancer is an athlete in top physical condition, capable of strenuous, complex movement; a visual artist capable of passing through beautiful body lines that are esthetically pleasing to the viewer, a musician expressing rhythm and the feeling of the music and an actor using the body to communicate emotion, and telling a story without using words. For these reasons the art of ballet is considered an elite art form. 

I remember learning about that at the early age of three when my parents (who were both ballet dancers) took me to see the ballet Giselle danced by Alicia Markova and Eric Bruhn.  When I first saw the almost homely looking ballerina with a rather large nose run onto the stage, I immediately told my mother: “She is not beautiful.” Then I saw her dance. This captivating artist created such magic with her body that by the end of act one, I told my mother: “She is so very beautiful!” That is the true ART of ballet.

At SNB, we are very fortunate to have brought some top ballet artists into our community. Two of our most popular are Domingo Rubio and Malachi Squires. Both of these men are fine artists, physically strong appealing athletes and handsome, charismatic dramatic actors. 

In October 2024 our community will have the opportunity to see both of these amazing men on stage together for the first time in the brilliantly choreographed popular work by Ananda Bena-Weber (brought back by audience request):  Dracula -The Ballet.   

Domingo Rubio recommended Malachi Squires for the title role. He told us: “Malachi is not only capable of the complex technical choreography and big lifts, he is a charismatic actor capable of creating an unforgettably mesmerizing character.” 

At six foot four inches, Squires is a striking figure and was an immediate audience favorite.  People continuously contact me to say:  “I have to come to see the ballet in October because I heard about the fabulous, captivating dancer who is dancing the role of Dracula.” 

Malachi Squires originally trained at the Houston Ballet Academy, and Marin Dance Theater. In addition to SNB, the dancer's many credits include performing with Les Grandiva Ballets in New York, Seoul and over 70 cities in Japan with an appearance on National television in the leading male roles in Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and Sleeping Beauty. He has appeared in numerous works in many professional companies, including Fort Worth Dallas Ballet, Lawrence Pech Dance Company, Madison Ballet, Ballet Quad Cities, Chicago Civic Ballet, Hilton Head Dance Theater, Rochester Dance Company, and Marin Dance Theater. His choreography includes The Restless Hours which he also produced, and choreography for Mesopotamia Night Chicago, Dance in the Parks Chicago, Bitteroot Dance Academy, Dance Drama Collaborative, 12 Min. Max Dance Festival and the Houston Artist of the Year Awards. Squires teaches in a number of schools in the Chicago area and the Houston Arts in Education Program. He is excited to once again perform the role of Dracula for SNB and to be on stage with Domingo Rubio, who he has admired as an artist/ mentor and has been friends with for years. 

Domingo Rubio is SNB’s second Permanent Guest Artist and has performed regularly with SNB since May of 2005. He has danced professionally for some 30 years, performing as a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Hispanico and was featured in the Robert Altman film, THE COMPANY.  Rubio danced the role of Maxfield Parrish in SNB’s A Painter’s Love Story, has been a featured artist in SNB’s Dancing By the River and in annual ballet classics including Swan Lake, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream-A Steam PunkBallet, 12^th Night- A Ballet Noir and The Last Unicorn.  Mr. Rubio has choreographed several works for SNB including the audience favorite, Prelude. In addition to performing as a ballet dancer/choreographer, he is a pianist, visual artist, sculptor and jewelry artist. Rubio teaches ballet and guest performs with dance companies throughout the USA. Domingo has danced the role of Dracula in several different productions and is very much looking forward to dancing the role of Renfield for the first time and sharing the stage with his long time friend in SNB’s production. 

Seeing these two charismatic artists head a full cast of marvelous SNB dancers in this “horror fans favorite” dramatic, mysterious, sensuous and at times frightening ballet by Ananda Bena-Weber is something not to be missed. Get your tickets early for October 18^th at the Carson City Community Center and October 26^th at the Pioneer Center in Reno, and join us (in your favorite costume) on October 26^th immediately following the ballet for the Dracula Ball at the Renaissance Hotel. Enjoy refreshments, music and dancing, and party with the amazing Dracula cast in person. 

For tickets to the Dracula Ballet and to RSVP for the Dracula Ball, or to get information about the SNB company and Academy visit SNB at www.sierranevadaballet.org or call 775-360-8663

*Please note that the Dracula ballet content is not for young children and is rated PG 13. 

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