It’s been almost 15 years since Vashon Center for Dance has brought Prokofiev’s classic ballet, “Cinderella,” to Vashon audiences. The last time was in 2001. It was one of the first ballets Christine Juarez, director of Vashon Center for Dance, choreographed for her students, and it was performed in the lecture hall-cum-theater in the old Vashon High School building. This weekend, Juarez and her students will present a newly choreographed version of “Cinderella” on the new stage as the inaugural dance performance in the Katherine L White Hall at Vashon Center for the Arts.
Juarez said she’s enjoyed working again with Provokiev’s “dynamic and dramatic” music, but this time she’s not the only choreographer. She and her faculty reworked the entire ballet. Vadne Domeika, who teaches ballet and pointe, re-choreographed the ballet scenes with Juarez. Vanesa Wiley set Cinderella’s pumpkin scene for her advanced modern V dancers, while Kathy Bonner took care of the stepsisters madly getting ready for the ball, a fun scene according to Juarez. Tap teacher Crissy Baker choreographed pieces for her tappers as the white horses and pages at the ball.
“What I like about the growing program is the collaboration and cohesiveness of the faculty. It’s also super exciting to see the integration of ballet, modern and tap into our traditional ballets,” Juarez said. “And, it’s great to get all of our students — 200 kids performing — under one roof for the spring show.”
The role of Cinderella will be shared by Vashon High School (VHS) seniors Sally Walker and Tess Mueller. VHS senior Quinn McTighe will play the prince with senior Josiah Boyijian as his man at arms. Juliana Wright and Selah Bellscheidt will dance as the evil stepsisters. The role of their nasty mother will be shared by Kelsey Morrison and Marisa McTighe with Toby Holmes as the stepfather. VHS senior Hannah Van Dusen will dance the role of the beloved fairy godmother.
The set will be minimalist with two locations, the cottage and the ballroom. Prop wranglers are Jean Huffman and Trish Thompson. Kate Guinee is in charge of costumes with lighting design by Stan Voynick.
While “Cinderella” fills out the second half of the program, “Dancers at a Gathering” will be the opening dance. On stage, guest pianist and islander William Kirkpatrick will play Chopin’s selections to accompany the advanced students performing the ballet.
“I am thrilled to kick-off our first performance at ‘The Kay’ with a wonderful non-narrative ballet originally choreographed by Jerome Robbins,” Juarez said in an earlier press release.
A narrated, abbreviated performance of “Cinderella” will be held at 1 p.m. Friday. The full-length “Dancers at a Gathering” and “Cinderella” will run at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Matinees will run at 1 p.m Saturday and at 3 p.m Sunday in the Katherine L White Hall. Tickets are available at VCA, Heron’s Nest and vashoncenterforthearts.org.
