Carolina Ballet Theatre’s ‘Ghosts’ returns, featuring Michael Jackson’s music

Carolina Ballet Theatre brings back one of its big hits, “Ghosts,” Oct. 27-28 at the Peace Center’s Gunter Theatre.

The ballet, spotlighting the music of Michael Jackson, has become as indispensable at Halloween time as “The Nutcracker” is during the Christmas season. Carolina Ballet Theatre has performed the work about 10 times since artistic director Hernan Justo first debuted a shorter version of the ballet in 2009.

“The story is really cute, the music of Michael Jackson is excellent, and we’ve got some great visuals,” Justo said.

The hour-long “Ghosts,” suitable for the whole family, centers on a group of young trick-or-treaters who happen to knock on the wrong door — a house filled with ghosts.

Justo’s choreography combines classical ballet with elements of music video dance styles. Audiences will notice many of Jackson’s signature moves.

In “Ghosts,” the fantasy world of romantic ballets like “Giselle” blends with modern special effects — smoke machines, strobe lights and black lights.

The ballet features several familiar Jackson songs, including “Billie Jean,” “Thriller,” “Dangerous” and “Blood on the Dance Floor.”

A modern Mozart

Justo’s choreography was inspired, in part, by Jackson’s 1983 music video “Thriller” and his 1996 short film “Ghosts.”

Justo compared Jackson to Mozart.

“We say that Michael Jackson was just a popular composer, but his music will survive forever,” Justo said. “He was extremely talented.”

“Ghosts” will feature Carolina Ballet Theatre’s eight professional dancers with an additional two dozen dancers, many of whom are students at the CBT dance school.

Justo has choreographed a new number to “Billie Jean” for guest hip-hop dancer Christopher Aldeguer from Columbia.

Carolina Ballet Theatre follows up its Halloween-themed “Ghosts” with its annual Christmastime performances of “The Nutcracker: Once Upon a Time in Greenville,” Dec. 1-3 at the Peace Center.