Cinderella by Stanton Welch for the Houston Ballet, a new version. Image: video excerpt.
This is not your typical fairy tale story. The new version of Cinderella by Houston Ballet created by artistic director, Stanton Welch, breaks all the molds from past versions of this classic ballet.
Older Versions of Cinderella
There are many versions of the story of Cinderella (the earliest was written down in China in the 9th century)… The earliest Cinderella ballet proper was by Duport in Vienna in 1813… London’s first complete Cinderella ballet was seen in 1822, the year Paris first heard Rossini’s opera La Cenerentola.
Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, and Enrico Cecchetti choreographed Cinderella for the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in 1893 to the music of Baron Boris Fitinhof-Schell – but none of the choreography has survived.
If you’re curious to read more on the history of this beloved ballet, click here.
In previous versions, Welch was bothered by Cinderella having to wait for someone: the fairy godmother or the Prince to “save” her. He chose, instead, to empower her character and allow her to choose her destiny. In this new version of Cinderella by Houston Ballet, she is not a victim but is rather feisty and a go-getter… “a real Texas woman.”
New version of Cinderella by Houston Ballet
In the video below Stanton Welch talks about his version.
The story has been a favorite for generations but make no mistake, this is not your childhood Cinderella. More tomboy than princess, Stanton Welch’s title character is a striking woman of substance, determination and spunk. She’s in control, fighting the oppression and will of her evil stepmother with wit and vigor. And when she finds true love she grabs it — and wisely holds on with both hands.
You can see original source of video.
Cinderellas has two choices: Beauty, wealth, yet being treated poorly? Or, true love? “Is that not really what we are all looking for?” The new version of Cinderella by Houston Ballet promises to be that and more.
Performances will run from February 23 through March 4, 2012. If you’re in Houston, don’t miss it. For more information visit www.houstonballet.org.
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About Romy Macias, Senior Editor
[...] a month ago, I wrote about Houston Ballet’s new take on the ballet Cinderella. I applaud director Stanton Welch for daring to stage a more contemporary version of the [...]