Say “Cinderella,” and what word comes to mind? Romance? Intrigue? Love? Humor? How could it not? Just look at the list of characters in the cast: a harassed serving girl, a wicked stepmother, two evil stepsisters, a fairy godmother, four fairies, 12 prince’s courtiers, four mice, four attendants, a beautiful princess, and, of course, a handsome prince.
This October, Dayton Ballet opens with the first of three full-length story ballets for its 2015-2016 Ascend Season. Dayton Ballet Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke’s spectacular Cinderella returns to the Victoria Theatre, featuring the wonderful music of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev.
Prokofiev began work on Cinderella in 1940 but did not complete the score until 1945, having had other obligations during World War II that kept him from this piece. Prokofiev said about the beloved protagonist, “I see Cinderella not only as a fairy-tale character, but also as a real person, feeling, experiencing, moving among us.” (101 Stories of the Great Ballets by George Balanchine and Francis Moon) And his beautiful music has inspired the most acclaimed of choreographers to bring the fairy-tale character to life on stage, perhaps as Prokofiev himself envisioned her. Since 1945, Cinderella has become one of the most popular and most widely performed classical ballets with ballet companies worldwide.
Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke originally choreographed this production in 2013, with all the intrigue, love and humor one would expect from one of the world’s most iconic rags-to-riches love stories. Dayton Ballet brings this wildly popular story ballet back to the stage, complete with gorgeous, colorful costumes by Lowell Mathwich and the whimsical set designs of Ray Zupp.
Add to this staging the melodic music of master Sergei Prokofiev, danced with the outstanding expertise of Dayton Ballet, and another word might just come to mind when we say “Cinderella”—magic.
On Thursday, October 22 at 7:30 pm; Friday, October 23 at 8 pm; Saturday, October 24 at 8 pm; and Sunday, October 25 at 3 pm in the Victoria Theatre, the Dayton Ballet is thrilled to present Cinderella, the first ballet of the 2015–2016 Ascend Season. The Thursday evening performance of Cinderella includes a Pizza Prelude from Uno’s Pizzeria to be served in the Victoria lobby beginning at 7 pm.
The Dayton Ballet Barre will host a Cinderella Tea at Boston Stoker, 34 W. Second Street, across the street from the Schuster Center, on Sunday, October 25 from 1:30 pm-2:30 pm, before the matinee performance. A story, a dance lesson, and a snack will make for a delightful afternoon before attending the performance. Cinderella and her handsome Prince Charming will make an appearance for magical photo opportunities. Tickets for the Cinderella Tea are $10 for adults and children and are sold separately from the performance. Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630.
Before each performance, Ms. Burke will hold a pre-performance talk called “The First Step,” giving audience members a more in-depth look at the upcoming performance and a behind-the-scenes peek at Dayton Ballet. “The First Step” will be held 45 minutes prior to curtain time for each performance in the Burnell Roberts Room at 126 North Main Street, beside the Victoria Theatre. “Behind the Ballet,” a Q&A with dancers that gives audiences the opportunity to learn more about the life of a dancer with Dayton Ballet, will follow each performance in the theatre. “The First Step” and “Behind the Ballet” sessions are free of charge for all ticketholders.
Tickets for Cinderella are $21 to $72 and are available at Ticket Center Stage (937) 228-3630 or online at www.daytonperformingarts.org. Senior, teacher and student discounts available at box office. For more information or to order subscriptions, including flexible subscription types that include performances by Dayton Philharmonic, Dayton Opera and Dayton Ballet, visit www.daytonperformingarts.org.
