PALM COAST, Fla. — A little fright, a little romance and a vampire with some seriously impressive moves: St. Augustine Ballet’s first appearance at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center gave audiences a spirited way to celebrate spooky season.
With “Dracula,” the company brought professional dancers and young performers together for an evening that extended the Halloween fun beyond the stage. Costumed theatergoers joined in the festivities, while behind the scenes, a new arts partnership gave students an opportunity to learn alongside experienced performers and theatrical technicians.
For attendee Diana Minotti, the production delivered.
“The St Augustine Ballet is a worthy group to support teaching our youth the lost art of ballet,” Minotti said. “Dracula was such a Passionate Dancer! Loved It!”
The enthusiasm reflected the possibilities that brought St. Augustine Ballet Artistic Director Luis Abella and the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center together. According to The Fitz’s Director, Craig Uppercue, conversations began about a month earlier with a visit and a discussion about opportunities for the ballet to perform at the Fitz.
The result paired the center’s student technicians with the ballet’s student dancers, working alongside professionals in a setting that supported the venue’s mission of arts and education.
“What an incredible partnership, awesome opportunity,” Uppercue said. “And I think that the arts are strengthened even more this evening.”
For dancer Anistyn Moore, stepping into the production as a vampire offered a first of her own.
“It was so exciting,” Moore said. “I’ve never gotten to play this role before, so I was really excited to, like, actually get to, like, be on stage and perform it for the first time.”
Having family in the audience helped settle her nerves. Knowing familiar faces were there to support her made the stage feel a little less intimidating, she said.
Her advice to other aspiring performers was straightforward: “You just have to go on there and try it.”
The invitation to embrace something new also extended to the audience.
St. Augustine resident Riley Stein arrived with friends Daisy and Kira Trimble, ready for a spooky night out. Winning a costume contest was not part of the plan.
“We just dressed up because we wanted to have fun with it,” Stein said.
When attendees were invited to photograph their costumes in the lobby and tag St. Augustine Ballet on Instagram, Stein joined in — and left with two tickets to “The Nutcracker.”
The visit also introduced Stein to the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.
“The inside is gorgeous,” Stein said. “Beautiful lighting. Everything was fantastic.”
For Bethany Hilbert, the ballet’s board vice president and a dance mom, the Palm Coast performance meant another opportunity for young dancers to do what they love. Her daughter, nearly 13, has performed with the ballet since she was 4.
“We’re super thankful that we had the opportunity to be here, because the girls love to perform, and this gave them an extra show night,” Hilbert said.
It also opened the door to new audiences.
“This gave us an opportunity to come out to a crowd that hasn’t seen our shows before,” she said. “It’s really important, I think, to partner with all of our communities around us so that we can share the love of the arts with everyone.”
Another partnership was blooming in the lobby. Tanya Kays, owner of Blossom by TZ, debuted a collaboration offering flowers for purchase at performances, with a portion of proceeds supporting scholarships and the arts through the center.
“If I’m gonna pay somebody, why would I pay a wiring service?” Kays said. “I would rather come here and give it back to the community.”
As the evening concluded, Abella thanked the dancers, families and theater crew, praising the staff’s work and the welcome the company received.
The ballet’s seasonal calendar continues with its 18th annual production of “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 18–20 at Lewis Auditorium in downtown St. Augustine.
But for its Fitzgerald debut, the company’s calling card came with fangs — and plenty of heart.
