Lollipop Children’s Ballet: “Cinderella” excerpts
Monday, March 16th, 2009
The City Youth Ballet of Johnson City brings to stage April 19 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. another of its popular Lollipop Series with the presentation of excerpts from “Cinderella.” These petite classical ballets are geared for children’s audiences and feature the City Youth Ballet’s junior and senior companies.
This ballet opens as Cinderella, portrayed by CYB senior Christa Rockney, tends to her chores and dreams of going to the royal ball. She then encounters her fairy godmother, portrayed by Rose Johnson, who magically transforms her rags to a beautiful gown and sends her off to the ball.
Villagers, Allen Smith and Kathryn Kenneson, rejoice in this transformation of Cinderella with a pas de deux. Also, senior members, Edith Dunbar, Taylor Vanders, Hannah Dunbar, and Julie Dunbar, portraying seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall, join the celebration of Cinderella with additional variations that are part of the full-length ballet and performed to the classical music of Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev.
In the scene at the palace ball, ballerina fairies, Maggie Hensley and Ginny Whaley, welcome Cinderella. CYB’s junior company portrays evening stars that shine and dance around the ball. The performance ends with Cinderella dancing as a princess.
“These Lollipop ballets can be enjoyed by the young and young at heart,” said CYB artistic director Susan Pace-White. “We strive to present ballet in a way that children can appreciate its artistry while being immersed in the magic of a fairy tale.”
“Cinderella” will be presented at the Charles Building, 308 E. Main Street, in downtown Johnson City across from Hands On! Museum. General admission is $5 a person. Tickets can be purchased at Bear ‘n Friends, Party Central, or at the door. All proceeds will benefit the CYB’s operations and outreach in the community.
For more information call (423) 434-2195 or visit the CYB website at www.cityyouthballet.wordpress.com.