Return to flip book view
Written & choreographed by Stephanie DattellasArtwork by Sofia Brummitt
Ballet Theatre Company501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization20 Jefferson Ave, West Hartford, CT 06119Text copyright by Stephanie DattellasArtwork by Sofia Brummitt
Cinderella was composed between 1940 and 1944 by Sergei Prokofiev to a scenario by Nikolai Volkov. The ballet was premiered by the Bolshoi Theatre in 1945choreographed by Rostislav Zakharov. Since, many choreographers have adapted their own versions to Prokofiev's famous score.Written & choreographed by Stephanie DattellasArtwork by Sofia Brummitt
with young Cinderella grieving ather father's funeral. With both of her parents nowdeceased, young Cinderella worriesabout her future with her cruelStepmother, and two nastyStepsisters.The story begins1
2
Cinderella is left to grow up servingas a maid to her Stepmother andStepsisters. All day long Cinderella is made tosweep, clean, and polish, while hermean Stepsisters take everyopportunity to torment her.Cinderella looks for comfort andfriendship from her only friends, the mice.3
4
The Prince of the kingdom, soon tobe crowned king, is advised by hisparents to find a wife. To please hisparents, the Prince decides to throwa ball and invite all the eligible youngladies in the kingdom. 5
Cinderella's Stepsisters are giddywith excitement to have beeninvited to the ball at the palace. Thetown modiste arrives withdressmakers, hairdressers, andjewelers in tow, eager to help theStepsisters prepare for the ball. 6
Amidst all of the excitement, an oldBeggar Woman comes asking foralms. The Stepfamily refuses herrequest, but Cinderella kindly offersher some bread and water. The oldwoman casts a gentle look at thekind girl and disappears. After getting dressed, theStepsisters practice waltzing withthe Dance Master. As the Stepsistersclumsily attempt to dance,Cinderella tries on a dress that wastossed out by the Stepsisters andsuggested by the modiste. 7
When the Stepfamily readies toleave for the ball, Cinderella asks tojoin them. The Stepsisters, seeing her in one oftheir discarded dresses, becomeenraged and rip the dress to shreds. The Stepfamily departs for the ballleaving poor Cinderella behind, sadand alone.8
Cinderella's mice friends scurry into cheer her up and mimic herStepsisters’ attempt to dance. Suddenly, the Beggar Womanreappears and reveals herself asCinderella's Fairy Godmother. Shetells Cinderella that, as a reward forher kindness, she shall go to thePrince’s ball. She calls upon the Season Fairies tocome and help Cinderella prepare. 9
10
The Spring Fairy transforms hertorn dress into a beautiful glitteringball gown.11
The Summer Fairies bring Cinderellaa crown to adorn her head. 12
The Autumn Fairy brings apumpkin which she magically turnsinto a carriage for Cinderella.13
Lastly, the Winter Fairy presentsCinderella with glass slippers. 14
Before Cinderella departs, her FairyGodmother warns her that she mustleave the ball before the clockstrikes midnight, when all of themagic charms will fade away andCinderella will be a servant to herunforgiving stepfamily once more.15
The guests arrive at the palace,including Cinderella’s Stepmother and Stepsisters. Prince Nicolai, prince of a nearbykingdom and the life-long bestfriend of the royal prince,announces the arrival of the Prince,and everyone begins to dance. 16
When Cinderella enters the ball inher stunning, shimmering dress,everyone turns in awe, mistakingher for a princess. Even her Stepmother andStepsisters fail to recognizeCinderella. The Prince asks Cinderella to dance,and the ballroom is once again filledwith waltzing guests.17
18
As the evening continues, the palacemaids are summoned to serve theroyal feast. The clumsy Stepsistersintervene and a food fight breaksout between them. The Prince and Cinderella dance abeautiful pas de deux together,falling madly in love. Caught up inthe dance, Cinderella loses track ofthe time. Suddenly, the clock strikesmidnight, and Cinderella,remembering her FairyGodmother’s warning, franticallyleaves the palace. 19
20
In her haste, she leaves behind oneof her glass slippers, whichmiraculously remains in theballroom after the magic has wornoff. Dismayed, the Prince picks up theslipper and vows he will find the girlhe wishes to marry.21
The next day, the Prince and Nicolaigo looking for Cinderella, firstpaying a visit to the townshoemaker, and then making theirway through the kingdom to try theglass slipper on every youngwoman who attended the ball. Villagers of all ages, eager for theopportunity to marry into the royalfamily, try to convince the Princethat they are the dazzling youngwoman from the ball. 22
When he arrives at Cinderella’shome, the Stepsisters painfully tryto fit the small glass shoe on theirlarge feet, to no avail. The Stepmother, desperate to marryinto royalty, faints after attemptingto fit her own foot into the slipper.As Cinderella rushes to herStepmother’s aid, the matching glassslipper, falls from her pocket. The Prince, seeing the slipper,immediately recognizes the modestCinderella dressed in rags as thebeautiful princess from the ball. 23
The two reunited lovers share adance and they live happily ever after.24
Main Characters 25
Cinderella- The story is about ayoung Cinderella who goesfrom grieving at her father'sfuneral. With both of herparents now deceased, andworried about her future withher cruel Stepmother, and twonasty Stepsisters. To true lovewith the Prince of the Kingdom.The Prince- The Prince of thekingdom, soon to be crownedking, is advised by his parentsto find a wife.The Stepfamily- Cinderella'scruel Stepmother takes everyopportunity to torture andhumiliate her stepdaughter.Her Stepsisters are just as crueland mean as her mother, whileconstantly competing with eachother. Main Characters Fairy Godmother- Cinderella'sFairy Godmother shows up tohelp her deepest dreams cometrue.Spring Fairy- The Spring Fairytransforms her torn dress intoa beautiful glittering ball gown.Summer Fairy- The SummerFairies bring Cinderella acrown to adorn her head.Autumn Fairy - The AutumnFairy brings a pumpkin whichshe magically turns into acarriage for Cinderella.Winter Fairy- Lastly, theWinter Fairy presentsCinderella with glass slippers.26
History of CinderellaSource - Cinderella: An Abridged History of the BalletThe story is based on the french author, CharlesPerrault's version of Cinderella, instead of theBrother's Grimm version which Disney's Cinderellais based on. In the ballet the four seasons arerepresented as fairies. A key difference is that inorder to test Cinderella's kindness the FairyGodmother first appears as a beggar woman. 27
The ballet Cinderella first premiered in 1945 at theBolshoi Ballet. This makes it one of the newerclassical ballets. Sergei Prokofiev is the composer ofthe music and began writing the work in 1940. However, his work was delayed by the internationaldisruption of World War II. He was able to continuehis work in 1944 for the Bolshoi Ballet's 1945 premier. A fun fact is that the composer Peter Tchaikovskywas originally asked to create the work some 70years before its premier, and Prokofiev ultimatelydedicated it to the late composer in 1945. Source - Cinderella: An Abridged History of the Ballet The Ballet Score28
Ballet TerminologyDemi plié- a movement Inwhich the dancer bends hisor her knee while keeping theheels on the groundBattement Tendu- when adancer stretches one leg outand points their toes whilestanding tall on their other legRetiré- a position Is createdby bending one leg andattaching the pinky toe to theknee of the standing legAttitude- a position wherethe working leg is lifted in theair to the front (devant), side(a la seconde) or to the back(derrière).Arabesque- a position Inwhich the weight of the bodyIs supported on one leg, whilethe other leg Is extended highIn the back with the kneestretchedPenché- when a dancer Isbent forward over one legwith the other In arabesquewell above 90 degreeGrand Jeté- a high jump withone leg stretched out frontand the other behind In a split Pas de Deux- The Frenchphrase "pas de deux"translates to "step of two."This refers to a routineperformed by two dancersworking together. 29
dancebtc.orgChoreographed by Stephanie DattellasArtwork by Sofia Brummitt