Valentine’s day is just around the corner which means roses will be overpriced, See’s Candies lines will be way too long and Ballet West opens Cinderella (Sir Frederick Ashton).  During the next few days we will be in the theater spending as much time as possible readying ourselves for Thursday.  This production of Cinderella (Sir Frederick Ashton) has big sets and many props to work with, especially for the Ugly Stepsisters.  One of the challenging, yet gratifying parts of transitioning from the studios to the stage is dancing with the orchestra instead of the usual piano accompaniment.  A live orchestra can be difficult to adjust to because certain notes are heard more clearly coming from the solo piano.  However, the sound of all the instruments together (especially in Prokofiev’s score) brings ballets to life and feels so good to dance along side.  There is a lot of history behind Sir Frederick Ashton’s version of Cinderella, which we are very lucky to be able to share with the community.

Arolyn Williams making fun of the Ugly Stepsisters as Cinderella

Once a ballerina, always a ballerina (those are Malin Thoors’ rehearsal shoes)

Christiana Bennett rehearsing Cinderella

Arolyn Williams rehearsing Cinderella

-Beau