Nathalie Moreno
Returning to Florida Southern College on February 26 is the Russian National Ballet with “Cinderella,” which was composed by the Russian giant Sergei Prokofiev between 1940 and 1944.
The production will be put on in the Branscomb Auditorium at 7:30 pm, and tickets will be sold at $18 for adults and $9 for children. True to the name, the ballet is a theatrical reenactment of the classic fairy tale story, down to the glass slipper.
“This is a full length ballet in three acts,” Florida Southern writes on its website, “replete with beautiful costumes, grand scenery, elegant dancers, and of course, the famous glass slipper. While the music is dark and brooding, the story is comedic–and audience’s embrace it for its visual beauty and artistic classicism.”
The Russian National Ballet company was founded in 1989 and has since become one of, if not the, best ballet company in Russia. The company travels and performs worldwide, in large cities as well as smaller ones, hoping to keep expanding their name and brand.
Along with “Cinderella,” they also put on original productions of other well known stories like “Don Quixote,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Sleeping Beauty.” More information about the company can be found on their website.
The Russian National Ballet has performed this adaptation of “Cinderella” on multiple stages. In a 2015 review of one performance in Wichita, Kansas, the show was said to have been magical and emotional.
“Directed by artistic director Elena Radchenko from Rostislov Zakharov’s choreography of the original production,” Guy Vollen writes in his review of the 2015 Wichita performance, “Cinderella” is Russian ballet in high style, full of big gestures and big emotions.”
If the performance here at Florida Southern proves to be anything like the last performances or better, the audience will be in for a lovely ride.
