CINDERELLA

I don’t know how many times I have seen a ballet version of Cinderella over the years but the first would have been in His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth so it was delightful to revisit it in that wonderful venue. Is one ever too old for fairy stories? This version had been made a number of years ago by a Western Australian choreographer, Jayne Smeulder, and it contained all the traditional elements but also some new magical touches. We saw the show on opening night and Cinderella was danced by Mayume Noguromi who has a genuine smile that reaches out across the footlights. Cuban dancer Oscar Valdes leapt and spun as the Prince and was supported by two dancers playing his brothers and even they bought comedy and a light touch to what might have uninspiring roles. But best of all were the dancers playing the step-sisters, Pamela Barnes and Asja Petvocki. They provided the most witty, physically engaging, clever performances that I have seen in this piece of story telling . As one reviewer said, it’s hard for classical dancers to pretend to dance badly but they managed it brilliantly. Another neat touch was the inclusion of an overtly gay character, the first time I’ve noticed that in a traditional ballet story.



https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/cinderella-review-having-a-ball-at-his-majestys-theatre-wa-2831889/

The WA Ballet has clearly been in excellent hands with ex-Perth dancer and ex-Australian Ballet Artistic Director, David McAllister, at the helm as locum AD. And although the company will miss him (as will I because he’s a delightful human being), it’s wonderful that the new AD is a Western Australian woman, Leanne Stojmenov:

https://www.danceaustralia.com.au/news/leanne-stojmenov-appointed-artistic-director-of-west-australian-ballet

 As an ex-Board Member of the WA Ballet from back in the 1980s, it’s thrilling to see the company in such good form.

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