Of Ballet and V-Day: Hamlet at The Long Center

This weekend holds an irresistible opportunity for Shakespeare fans, ballet aficionados and romance-seekers who aren’t bothered by a little morbidity - Ballet Austin will stage Hamlet at the Long Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Even if you haven’t read the play since high school, you probably have a pretty solid recollection of what Hamlet is all about. Ghosts, insanity, revenge and untimely death make this one of Shakespeare’s juiciest and most frequently produced works. When the characters aren’t deceiving each other, they're pondering their very existence, and as you may well remember, this play is labeled a tragedy for good reason.

We’re excited to see how Ballet Austin’s Artistic Director Stephen Mills will interpret this intense story. Translating Shakespeare’s memorable lines and affecting soliloquies into precise balletic motion and innovative choreography would pose a challenge to even the most creative dance visionary, but based on Mills’ previous stage triumphs (this is actually his second time taking on Hamlet), we’re betting we’re in for a stunning treat.

Music by Philip Glass, Armani-inspired costumes and the Long Center’s classy vibes enhance what could be one of the greatest anti-Valentine’s Day activities available in this town. Expect an existential hero steeped in sorrow, a fractured love story and a graceful, well-crafted spectacle. This ballet isn’t for the faint of heart, so if yours is of the trampled, broken or lonely variety (or if you just like top-notch dance productions), get thee to see Hamlet this weekend.