'Cinderella Ballet' this weekend at RRCA

Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News
·3 min read
River Raisin Ballet Company dancers Fall Fairy Elora Russell, Spring Fairy Collette Charock, Fairy Godmother Kynzie Riegel, Summer Fairy Mya Wallace and Winter Fairy Mariska Lewandowski dance in rehearsal of the production of "Cinderella" at the River Raisin for the Arts.
River Raisin Ballet Company dancers Fall Fairy Elora Russell, Spring Fairy Collette Charock, Fairy Godmother Kynzie Riegel, Summer Fairy Mya Wallace and Winter Fairy Mariska Lewandowski dance in rehearsal of the production of "Cinderella" at the River Raisin for the Arts.

It’s been eight years since the River Raisin Ballet Company presented “Cinderella.” The ballet returns this weekend.

“Cinderella” will feature a local cast of 75, all but six of whom are children and teens.

“Cinderella” follows the plot of the most well-known version of the story, as told through choreographed dances, acting and handmade costumes. Scenes include the ballroom, garden and a travel vignette featuring fairies, bugs and clock elves. The RRBC also performed the ballet in 2015 and 2009.

More: Preparing for the part: Area men shave their heads for this weekend's ballet

Evelyn Short and Elora Russell are sharing the role of Cinderella. They are among the four graduating seniors in this year’s production.

“Both are dancing a major character role for the first time. They both have embraced the personality of Cinderella,” Gail Choate-Pettit, RRBC director, said. “The Cinderellas performs their role beautifully.”

River Raisin Ballet Company dancer Emily Bellino dances the roll of the Court Jester in the production of "Cinderella" at the River Raisin for the Arts.
River Raisin Ballet Company dancer Emily Bellino dances the roll of the Court Jester in the production of "Cinderella" at the River Raisin for the Arts.

Other leading parts include the spring fairy, played by Colette Charnock, and the summer fairy, played by Mya Wallace. Emily Bellino dances as the fall fairy. Mariska Lewandowski is the winter fairy. Gabe Hileman is dancing as the prince, and Kynzie Riegel as the fairy godmother.

“The role of the fairy godmother danced by Kynzie is danced beautifully with all the expected grace and maturity of a loving godmother,” Choate-Pettit said. “We are so very proud of our senior-level company members who are able to dance roles that require a strong technical ability with the artistry to portray a character's emotions.”

A couple new characters will debut this year.

“We have added three little mice friends who make a beautiful sash for Cinderella in hopes of helping her go the ball,” Choate-Pettit said.

Dancers Charlee Moody, Marissa Simmons and Ava Davies as the mice in the River Raisin Ballet Company's production of "Cinderella" rehearse in Act 1 at the River Raisin for the Arts.
Dancers Charlee Moody, Marissa Simmons and Ava Davies as the mice in the River Raisin Ballet Company's production of "Cinderella" rehearse in Act 1 at the River Raisin for the Arts.

Also new are some of the backdrops and costumes.

“This show uses professional backdrops. We changed the garden scene and kept the house and ballroom the same. We will use our beautiful pumpkin coach again for this show with an added surprise,” Choate-Pettit said. “The flower scene costumes have been changed; the colors are vivid and lovely. We also had to make new season fairy costumes, which Dyanne (Morehouse, costume designer) newly created for our dancers. Cinderella's ballroom tutu is also new and exquisite.”

Some special effects are debuting for 2023, and the flying broom from 2015 is coming back.

“I hope to continue the effect of the small smoking pumpkin and use smoke on the larger pumpkin as well, we will see. The dress will fly down to the bluebirds who will present to Cinderella,” Choate-Pettit said.

Evelyn Short, 18, splitting the role of Cinderella with Elora Russell, 17, above dances in Act 1 at her home, behind Lacey Palmer, who's splitting the role of the cat with Cora Woisniewski, in the River Raisin Ballet Company's production of "Cinderella" at the River Raisin for the Arts.
Evelyn Short, 18, splitting the role of Cinderella with Elora Russell, 17, above dances in Act 1 at her home, behind Lacey Palmer, who's splitting the role of the cat with Cora Woisniewski, in the River Raisin Ballet Company's production of "Cinderella" at the River Raisin for the Arts.

“Cinderella’s” cast includes a handful of adults, in the role of the beggar woman, the dance instructor, the stepsisters, the stepmother and the prince. Hileman, now an RRCA instructor, was a dance student in 2015 when he first played the prince.

“It has been a joy to watch Gabe as an adult perform this role again. His maturity adds to the role of the prince. Both his acting and dancing are stronger, giving depth to this role,” Choate-Pettit said.

River Raisin Ballet Company court dancers rehearse the ball scene of the production of "Cinderella" at the River Raisin for the Arts.
River Raisin Ballet Company court dancers rehearse the ball scene of the production of "Cinderella" at the River Raisin for the Arts.

The director said her favorite part of the show is the garden scene.

“I absolutely love the music in the garden scene because it provides a variety of sublime music that is both exciting and intoxicating," she said. "Each fairy has music which represents the feeling specific to her season. When they all come together in the coda, the dynamics of the movement and music is powerful."

If you go

WHAT: “Cinderella Ballet”

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. A 15-minute meet-and-greet will follow the 11 a.m. Saturday performance

WHERE: River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 S. Monroe St.

TICKETS: Tickets are $27 for adults, $23 for senior citizens and military, $15 for students. Free tickets for age 5 and under are available for the 11 a.m. Saturday show.

ORDER: Stop by the box office, call 734-242-7722 or visit www.riverraisincentre.org

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: 'Cinderella Ballet' this weekend at RRCA