Edward Stewart

For the second Halloween season in a row, the Ballet Theater of Annapolis is staging "Dracula" at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis.The ballet, a modernized interpretation of Bram Stoker's horror tale, will feature Chinese dancer Zhirui Zou this fall, making her debut as a principal dancer with the Annapolis company in a new role as the monster's jealous bride.Zou, a Beijing resident considered one of China's finest dancers, is spending a year in Annapolis.The ballet tracks Dracula -- danced by Dmitry Tuboltsev, a Bolshoi dancer who joined the company and tackled the role last year -- from his birth through his death.

100 years agoProf. Charles A. Zimmerman, director of the Naval Academy Band, now at Deer Park, has composed "The Elite March," dedicated to the debutants of the season. -- The Sun, Aug. 9, 1897.A severe rainstorm visited Annapolis last night. Lightning struck the spire of the Maryland Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. The crash was terrific and houses in the vicinity were shaken. -- The Sun, Aug. 11, 1897.All public school teachers in Anne Arundel County who do not hold legal certificates are required to take an examination next week.

Lamone named president of ballet theaterBallet Theatre of Annapolis has announced the election of new officers to the board of trustees for the 1996-1997 year.Linda Lamone, the new president, is the attorney for the Maryland Higher Education Committee. She also is a member of the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland.Serving with Lamone as first and second vice presidents are Eugene Whissell II and Edward O. Watson Jr. respectively. Janet Morgan and Charleen Keitel begin their first terms as secretary and treasurer respectively.

The new three-act production of "Cinderella," choreographed by artistic director Edward Stewart to the music of Sergei Prokofiev and performed by the Ballet Theatre of Maryland, seems destined to become a local classic. The ballet, performed at Maryland Hall last weekend, will be repeated this weekend at Chesapeake Center for the Creative Arts in Brooklyn Park. Capping its 20th season with this production, the troupe features principal ballerina Zhirui Zou dancing the role of Cinderella.

Annapolis-based Ballet Theatre of Maryland opened its 24th season during the weekend with the debut of its artistic director Dianna Cuatto. Ballet Theatre of Maryland dancers and Cuatto are off to a noteworthy start with spectacular choreography beautifully executed by a well-integrated, tight-knit troupe of dancers. A logical successor to founder and artistic director Edward Stewart, Cuatto shares his respect for dancers, exhibiting a similar ability to showcase their strengths while creating lovely scenes.

When the genie of nationalism escaped from its bottle in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it immediately began to inspire impassioned, stirring music that would hold the world in its grip and never let go.From the "Marseillaise" to to Smetana's famous river journey down "The Moldau," love of country quickly became synonymous with love of music.It is in this spirit that the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra comes to Anne Arundel for "A Star-Spangled Celebration" from 5: 30 p.m. to 10 p.m. June 29 at Siegert Field on the campus of Anne Arundel Community College.

Mowgli's adventuresThe adventures of Mowgli, the Indian orphan raised by wolves in Rudyard Kipling's wonderful set of children's tales called "The Jungle Books," will be retold in a production by Ohio Ballet that will be presented Tuesday at the Gordon Center in Owings Mills.A co-production by the Akron-based ballet company and the Bharata Kalanjali Dance Company of Madras, India, the ballet features a mixture of Indian bharataz-natyam dance and Western ballet, performed by dancers of both companies.

The Ballet Theatre of Annapolis opens its 14th season this weekend at Maryland Hall with a slate of performances featuring three dramatic ballets -- two of them premiere performances.Choreographer Edward Stewart's troupe of dancers will present "Gaiete Parisienne," a set of light, comic dances set to music by the greatest Gallic charmer of them all: Jacques Offenbach.Performing the can-cans, waltzes and other cabaret dances will be Ballet Theatre veterans such as Leslie Bradley, David Miller and Laura Erdman.

Young actors chosen for 'Nutcracker'Twenty-one children from Arnold and Severna Park have been chosen to appear in the Ballet Theatre of Annapolis' annual production of "Nutcracker."The ballet will be performed at Maryland Hall in Annapolis in December. The children were selected from hundreds of candidates after September auditions.Playing the parts of the children are Mark Anselm, Jennifer Hankins, Megan Harper, Amy Smick, Meredith Snyder and Heather Stangle.The Mice will include Mariah Albee, Jaclyn Chartier, Lauren Malecki, Alicia Pettit, Stephanie Rolland, Anna Schall and Erin Snyder.

Surge Dance Company plans a gigantic project for its 1998-1999 season: a full-scale production of Carl Orff's theatrical cantata "Carmina Burana" with 30 dancers, a full chorus, soloists and percussion ensemble.The work will be choreographed by Ken Szrzesz, artistic director of Surge, which is the modern dance company in residence at the Carver Center for Arts and Technology. The musical forces will be under the direction of Douglas Byerly.The piece will premiere at First Night Dover in Delaware on Dec. 31 and then will be given Jan. 8-10 at the Carver Center.