LIVERMORE – The Bankhead Theater will welcome the return of the Moscow Festival Ballet in February with their acclaimed production of the beloved fairytale, “Cinderella.”
Based on the French tale by Charles Perrault, the traditional story of the poor stepsister in rags, a fairy-godmother, charming prince, and a magical glass slipper comes to life in this fully-staged ballet version. The Moscow Festival Ballet’s magnificent production of “Cinderella” will be presented at the Bankhead Theater for one performance only on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m.
Dedicated to preserving the timeless beauty of the Russian ballet tradition, the Moscow Festival Ballet brings their exceptional dancing, classic choreography, exquisite sets and costumes on annual tours worldwide. Led by artistic director Sergei Radchenko, they specialize in timeless works and new pieces including full-length productions of twentieth-century classical ballets such as “Romeo and Juliet,” which they performed here in 2015, as well as “Giselle,” “Legend of Love,” “Stone Flower,” “Don Quixote” and “Paquita.” Radchenko danced the entire repertoire at the Bolshoi Ballet, where he worked for 25 years, and he continues to lead master classes in the Russian classical school. Under his leadership, the Moscow Festival Ballet has expanded its repertoire and been received with high acclaim on extensive tours throughout Europe, Asia and the United States.
One of the best known fairy tales in the world, the story of Cinderella has been translated into nearly every art form from children's theater to grand opera. Set to Sergei Prokofiev’s melodic score written in the 1940s, the ballet is a classic retelling of the poor but beautiful Cinderella, whose stepmother and stepsisters treat her as a maid. Her fairy godmother makes it possible for her to attend the Prince's ball, but warns her to leave by midnight or the spell will be broken. Although the Prince has instantly fallen in love with her, she slips away from the ball leaving behind her glass slipper. The next day, many women including her stepsisters try on the slipper, but it only fits Cinderella, who is now dressed again in her tattered rags. The prince recognizes her as his lost love and the ballet concludes with a storybook happy ending.
The Bankhead Theater welcomes a wide range of acclaimed artists each year, including musicians, dancers, actors, comics, and others from across the performing arts world. In addition to the Moscow Festival Ballet, this season the Bankhead will also welcome the talents of Los Angeles-based contemporary dance company Body Traffic on May 19th. Tickets for these and all remaining shows in the 2017-2018 season are available now through the Bankhead Theater ticket office at (925) 373-6800 or at www.lvpac.org.
