As ballet-lovers walked up to the Progress Energy Center in Raleigh several spoke about the tragedy that struck the Carolina Ballet the week before.

"I'm sorry to hear about your loss," one woman told an employee who was selling books by the doors to the theater.

It was last Friday when dance trainee Elena Shapiro, 20, died in a car crash. She was supposed to be here at the Progress Energy Center on this Thursday evening for the opening night of Swan Lake.

"I keep thinking ... she should be here," Sarah Newton, a dancer and friend of Shapiro's, said in rehearsal the night before. "Just looking around the stage and not seeing her there is really hard."

Police said a drunk driver ran into Shapiro's car. The state charged plastic surgeon Raymond Cook with second degree murder. He resigned his teaching position at the University of North Carolina, surrendered his medical license and will enter an alcohol treatment program Friday.

The company dedicated Thursday night's performance to Shapiro.

"We had a very sad week this week. We lost one of our dancers in an automobile accident," Artistic Director Robert Weiss told the audience on stage before the performance. "They've rallied together in their grief, comforting each other. The ballet company's like a family anyway. I think we've become a much closer family after this last week."

"I think ballet is a spiritual art form and an ethereal art form and we're very very grateful we can put these performances on; Elena's spirit will be guiding these next four weeks."

Patrons said their thoughts are with the company.

"I have a daughter who's a ballet dancer and she began when she was ten years old and this young lady began when she was ten years old ... and she's 20," said Ward Purrington. "What a tragedy to have all of that talent and to lose all of that."

"There's a lot of emotion in ballet. There's a lot of inspiration in ballet. I think that's what we'll see tonight."