After a nine-year absence from Pacific Northwest Ballet, Kent Stowell’s “Cinderella” is making its debut at McCaw Hall Feb. 2-14.
“The audience wanted ‘Cinderella’ back,” said Stowell, the founding artistic director and choreographer at PNB, of why the well-known story was returning to the stage after so much time.
Based on the original French fairy tale by Charles Perrault, “Cinderella’s” dancers transform the classic into a fun but also romantically themed production just in time for Valentine’s Day.
“It’s a timeless story perfect for young lovers and families.” said Stowell. “We hope that the audience has a great time.”
More than 120 roles were cast for members of the company, including 62 children from the Pacific Northwest Ballet School.
And while the theme of romance reverberates throughout the story of “love lost and love found,” there are plenty of moments where laughter and comedy shine through.
Soloists Chalnessa Eames and Lindsi Dec say they were destined to play the stepsisters of Cinderella.
Having shared a dressing room for the past few years, they agreed their relationship as on-stage sisters has been well practiced for a while now.
Both dancers joined PNB in 2001 and this year marks their 10th season.
Having watched the Disney version of “Cinderella” as a child, Dec admitted that at that time the stepsister character was not necessarily an ideal role for her, let alone any little girl dreaming to one day be a princess.
But when she watched Cinderella performed in her first year at PNB she knew that was the role for her.
“[The stepsisters] are so comical and get a great response from the audience,” Dec said. “It’s so much fun for us to hear the positive audience feedback.”
Dec describes her character role as the “goofy” and “awkward” while alongside her, Eames’ role is more “bossy.” The two say they’ve had so much fun together on perfecting their comedic parts that the six-hour daily rehearsal schedule rarely feels like work.
“It’s fun doing character roles with your friends. … Everyone loves being in the studio right now,” Eames said. “You get into your head and you get to be this silly little girl.”
For some of the younger performers, their roles in “Cinderella” are a dream come true.
Sitting quietly during rehearsals until it is their time on stage, Nina Adams, Emma Sluss and Tess Bittner are captivated watching a dancer gracefully tell a story through graceful movement in front of them.
“They are just amazing to watch,” said Emma, a fourth grader at Kings Elementary who is performing in the show as a bug.
For Tess, a fifth grader at John Hay Elementary, her role as a clock child has been the highlight of her career. Nina, a fifth grader who plays a good fairy attendant, says she has fun not only watching the professionals but dancing on stage with them.
“They are really good at dancing and it’s cool to see how they have come from being like us and how they got to be so good at what they do,” Nina said.
Looking forward to opening night, the performers hope their excitement engages the imagination of audience members.
“We always hope that the audience enjoys what we do,” Dec said. “Every show that we perform is geared toward them and we want everyone leaving happy.”
For more information visit www.pnb.org Tickets can be purchased a the PNB box office or by calling 206.441.2424.
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