The Northwest Florida Ballet (NFB) returns to the Mattie Kelly Arts Center to conclude Season 55 with the beloved fairytale, Cinderella, on Sat., March 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Sun., March 9, at 2:30 p.m. The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (NFSO), led by NFB Music Director and Conductor David Ott, will provide musical accompaniment.
Presented in three acts, this timeless classic features the acclaimed choreography of NFB Artistic Director Todd Eric Allen and the beautiful music of Sergei Prokofiev, bringing to life a cavalcade of enchanting characters, brilliant dancing, vibrant costumes and a magical set sure to hold audiences under its spell.
“Cinderella’s story is beloved by many and set to an impeccably written score by Sergei Prokofiev. This ballet is also an exciting challenge for the NFB dancers, both physically and artistically. It’s such a joy for us to present and is the perfect way to close out our 55th season,” said NFB Artistic Director/CEO Todd Eric Allen.
While the story has taken on many forms in cultures across the globe, 17th-century French writer and political figure Charles Perrault is credited with the original story that most Americans have come to know.
The first staging of Cinderella as a ballet was conceived by Sir Fredrick Aston in 1948 for London’s Sadler’s Wells Ballet and was hailed as an instant classic. The weary post-war audiences were eager to be enchanted. They were thoroughly charmed by the rags-to-riches story about a young girl’s magical journey from struggle and heartbreak to the ultimate happy ending.
“Although Walt Disney’s animated version is the one they are most familiar with, audiences are often surprised to find out that Cinderella’s origins can go back to ninth-century Chinese folklore that praised the virtues and loveliness of women with tiny feet,” said Allen.
NFB guest artists Daynelis Muñoz and Rafael Quenedit portray the roles of Cinderella and her handsome prince, respectively. Muñoz, a Cuban-born Principal International Guest Artist, showcased her exceptional talents with the National Ballet of Cuba, Mexico Ballet and Tulsa Ballet before embarking on a freelancing journey. She has graced stages across Spain, France, Colombia, Mexico, and more. Her repertoire includes leading roles in iconic classics such as Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Serenade and La Bayadere. Prior to his current role as a principal dancer with the Cincinnati Ballet, Quenedit was a principal at the National Ballet of Cuba, where he performed principal roles in Sawn Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle, La Fille Mal Gardée, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, Carmen, La Bayadere, Cinderella and Theme & Variations. Sharing his art with dance lovers worldwide has been one of his passions, as he has performed lead roles in the United States, Italy, Spain, France, Canada, Mexico and many others.
To get to her prince, Cinderella has to get past her cruel stepsisters, hilariously performed by NFB guest artists Max Murdock and John Aaron Wiggins, with NFB company members Isabella Austin and Timothy Knoll dancing the roles of the conniving wicked stepmother and Cinderella’s overwhelmed father, respectively. Also featured in this year’s production will be NFB company member Valerie Buck as the Fairy Godmother and NFB guest artist Telmen Munkherdene as the comical Jester. NFB company members Jenna Buchholz, Lolea Hill, Maille Blow and Sophia Killelea will perform the roles of the fairies of the seasons.
Ott, a Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award nominee, will lead the NFSO and provide live musical accompaniment for all public performances of NFB’s Cinderella. In his ninth year as the NFB Music Director, Ott has been cited among America’s most-performed composers of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The NFSO is the Emerald Coast’s premiere 65-piece professional orchestra under the leadership of Music Director Todd Craven and resides at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center.
Box office-priced tickets for Cinderella are $48 for adults and $22 for children 12 and under. Visit https://www.nfballet.org/cinderella to purchase.
