The Joffrey Ballet's 2009-2010 "Season of Legends" continues with Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, back by popular demand. Widely considered one of the greatest ballet interpretations of this timeless fairytale, Ashton's Cinderella is an enchanting fantasy full of splendor, humor and magic. The Chicago Sinfonietta, the official orchestra of The Joffrey Ballet, under the baton of conductor Scott Speck, will provide live musical accompaniment of Sergei Prokofiev's classic score. Cinderella will take place at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, in nine performances only, February 17 - February 28, 2010.
"As a company known for its many 'firsts,' The Joffrey Ballet was the first to perform Ashton's Cinderella in America in October 2006," notes Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley C. Wheater. "Having worked closely with Sir Ashton at The Royal Ballet, I can confidently say that The Joffrey upholds the full ingenuity, sincerity and authenticity of his brilliant work. A work for the entire company, Cinderella is one of the Joffrey's most popular and lavish productions ever and we are proud to revive it this season."
Acquiring Ashton's Cinderella was a longtime dream of Joffrey Ballet Founder Robert Joffrey, and it was his last wish that the Company perform this production. When it premiered in 2006 it was the first brand new, full-length story ballet that The Joffrey had mounted since The Nutcracker premiered in 1987. The Joffrey Ballet retains the exclusive rights to perform Ashton's Cinderella.
Performed in three acts with 39 different characters portrayed, Cinderella is a rags-to-riches fairytale about a downtrodden young Cinderella, a glass slipper and a handsome prince, who are all brought together by a fairy godmother. Ashton creates a mysterious and magical world where pumpkins become coaches, rags turn to ball gowns, and the comedy of Cinderella's pantomime step-sisters-portrayed, as is tradition, by male dancers-provides the perfect foil for the developing romance of Cinderella and the Prince.
Sir Frederick Ashton joined The Royal Ballet of London as choreographer when the company was founded in 1931 and served as its Artistic Director from 1963 to 1970. When Cinderella premiered at the Sadler's Wells Ballet ( London ) in December 1948, it was not only Ashton's first full-evening ballet, but also the first production in the West to use Proko f iev's hauntingly brilliant score, which was composed specifically for Ashton's choreography. Ashton later revised and restaged Cinderella for The Royal Ballet in 1965. As a young dancer, Wheater trained at The Royal Ballet School in London, and at age 13 he worked with Ashton on the World Premiere of Benjamin Britten's Death in Venice. Wendy Ellis Somes, a former dancer with The Royal Ballet, staged and directed Ashton's Cinderella for The Joffrey Ballet, with the production boasting breathtaking sets and costumes designed by David Walker.