San Jose Dance Theatre Presents, Cinderella

Cinderella is a classical ballet composed by Sergei Prokofiev, first performed in 1945. Prokofiev’s music for the ballet is renowned for its sweeping melodies, lush orchestration, and charming melodies, making it an enduring classic that continues to be performed all over the world. With its timeless story of love, kindness, and perseverance, Cinderella remains one of the most beloved ballets of all time.

A wealthy merchant widower has a beautiful and kind daughter. He knows he cannot care for her alone so he marries a woman with two other children about his daughter’s age. His new wife is jealous of Cinderella’s beauty and the love her father has for her and treats her poorly. The Stepmother forces the young girl to do housework while her own daughters are doted upon.

The kingdom announces a ball for the young Prince to meet his future bride. All the ladies of the household are thrilled to attend, but Cinderella is told she cannot go. She helps her stepsisters and stepmother get ready to leave for the ball and finds herself alone and crying, because she is not able to attend. A beggar woman finds Cinderella and Cinderella helps the old woman because her heart is pure. The old woman magically transforms into Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. Her Godmother waves her wand and Cinderella’s tattered house dress becomes a beautiful ball gown. The fairies of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter come, each offering her their season’s gift. The nymphs of the forest come to celebrate the magic of the evening.

At the palace, the court jester is waiting for the ball to begin. As the guests arrive, a large celebration commences. Cinderella arrives late and she is so beautiful that not even her stepsisters recognize her. The Prince is entranced and falls instantly in love with her. As the night comes to an end, Cinderella must leave the ball before midnight or risk losing the magic of her transformation. In her haste to leave, she loses one of her slippers, which the prince uses to search for her and find out her true identity. When he arrives at Cinderella’s home, her stepmother and stepsisters try to claim the slipper as their own, but Cinderella produces the matching shoe revealing her to be the mysterious princess. The prince and Cinderella are then married in a grand celebration.