‘Cinderella’
When: 7:30 p.m. March 22; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. March 23; 2 p.m. March 24
Where: Pearce Auditorium, Brenau University, 500 Washington St., Gainesville
How much: Adults $18-$24, seniors $14-22, children $12-$18
Contact: 770-532-4241, www.gainesvilleballet.org
If you’re a fan of a good rags-to-riches fairy tale, you’ll will love watching the Gainesville Ballet Company’s performance of “Cinderella” this weekend.
This will be the company’s first time performing the classic tale. It is sure to entertain children and adults with beautiful costumes, choreography and a refreshing amount of humor.
“I think everyone knows ‘Cinderella,’ but not everyone has seen the ballet,” said Annette Barcelona who plays the role of Cinderella. “It’s still the same central story line but I think it’s just a really special way to view a common story. I think it’s more fun because there is that unexpected because it’s a live performance. You never know what’s going to happen and none of the performances are going to be the same.”
A cast of 92 dancers, many between the ages 8 and 11, will bring the classic fairy tale to life on the stage at Pearce Auditorium, with performances March 22, 23 and 24. Tickets can be purchased at the Pearce Auditorium box office or by calling 770-532-4241.
Barcelona said the performance will be bittersweet because it is her last major performance with the company before she pursues a degree in choreography. She said the opportunity to dance as Cinderella is a dream come true.
Barcelona said the audience will love watching the “top notch” performance because of the story’s characters.
“We’ve developed the characters and now the challenging part is going to be not laughing,” Barcelona said. “The stepsisters are two men on point. That’s really, really hysterical. It’s been a lot of fun to get into a character role and be dancing. It’ll be theatrical.”
Artistic director Diane Callahan said children of all ages will enjoy watching “Cinderella,” while adults may be intrigued by the seven short repertoire pieces the dancers will perform prior to the main show.
Callahan said some of the pieces are comical and others are a bit darker, but the audience will enjoy seeing the different dances.
“The children, of course, will love ‘Cinderella.’ It’s a wonderful fairy story,” Callahan said. “I think the adults will like it also but the adults will like what comes before it, seeing the other types of dance.”