Carolina Ballet Presents Halloween
Repertoire
With Raleigh based Carolina
Ballet dancing to the music composed
by J. Mark Scearce, Head of the music
department at NG State University,
Dracula has moved into Raleigh and
can been welcomed into his new
home at A. J. Fletcher Theater of the
Progress Energy Center of the Per
forming Arts in downtown Raleigh.
Carolina Ballet premiered two
spine-chilling ballets - Dracula (Bram
Stoker) and The Masque of the Red
Death (Edgar Allen Poe) on Thurs
day, October 14. The dramatic ballet,
complete with a costumed audience
and a narrator, is not the usual type
of classical ballet. Artistic Director
Robert Weiss admits that he had been
thinking of presenting a new Dracula
for several years but the current in
terest in vampire lore sweeping the
country is what ultimately led him to
begin plans for creating a new pro
duction for the Carolina Ballet danc
ers. To compliment Dracula, Robert
Weiss choreographed a new ballet to
Edgar Allen Poe’s macabre tale The
Masque of the Red Death to open the
program. Weiss explains that since
the program leads up to Halloween he
Lyn Triplett, Staff Writer
felt that the Poe short stoiy added its
■own eerie drama to the evening.
The music for both short bal
lets was specially commissioned by
J. Mark Scearce, who is head of the
music department at NCSU. Scearce
has collaborated several times with
Carolina Ballet and is an accomplished
composer in various areas of musical
entertainment. Both ballets on the
Dracula program will be accompanied
by live music conducted by Alfred E.
Sturgis.
In the spirit of Halloween, pa
trons are encouraged to wear costumes
to the production the final weekend -
October 30 and 31. Student tickets are
only $10.00 with a student ID.
For show times and further informa
tion regarding the Dracula program
may be obtained by calling the Caro
lina Ballet box office at 919 719-0090
or visiting www.carolinaballet.com.
Ask Gigi
^.D'ehr Gigi,
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine committed suicide after his parents turned
on him when he told them he was gay. I’m still shaken up about it, yet after 20
years, I'm finally ready to tell my parents that I’m a lesbian. Like my friend's
parents, mine are veiy* consemitive, and I’m afraid they’ll disown me when I tell
them. How can I make this discussion go as smoothly as possible?
Sincerely,
Nervous Wreck
Dear Nervous Wreck.
I’m very' sorr>' to hear the tragic news about your friend, and I can imagine
that your stress over this issue is compounded in light of that terrible event. I
suggest you pick a time to talk when your parents are tranquil. Choose a quiet \
■place free of distractions. Approach the topic with an attitude that shows open
confidence in their ability' to accept your orientation, even if your feelings don’t's;
i-eflcct that optimism. If you begin the conversation with an angry tone and d&i''''
fensive attitude, your parents are more likely to act defensive in response. Ask!
them to allow you a few uninterrupted minutes to say everything you need to .
say, and then deliver the message using a lot of “I” language in a calm, level ton
of voice. Then, regardless of their responses, let them get all their w'ords out in , -
the open. Validate their feelings by saying that you undenstand their difficulty in ;
accepting your sexual orientation and that it is okay if they need some time to ^
reflect on it. Then leave them be for awhile. It might be necessary to physically,' ,
‘ leave the discussion site, even if it's your house. Need on-campus support? Con-
■' fide in anyone who has a “SafeZone” sticker on his or her office door. Good luck!
Yours truly',
Advertise Here!
Email heraldadvertising@meredith.edu