CINDERELLA

CINDERELLA is a full length ballet in two acts to Prokofiev's world famous score, choreographed by Cristiano Principato and produced by Sander Sellin (Grand Art MTÜ - Estonian Ballet Agency).

The two created an unprecedented type of show that wants to be a hybrid between a "full length ballet" and a "ballet gala": unlike a gala, which showcases short extracts from different ballets, this show follows the storyline of the fairytale Cinderella, while still featuring dancers from various leading European ballet companies, just like a gala-type show would do.

The production, so far, has involved dancers coming from Paris Opera Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Finnish National Ballet, Estonian National Ballet, Polish National Ballet, Royal Danish National Ballet, Compañía Nacional de Danza and Vanemuine Ballet. 

Cinderella premiered in 2024 on the main stage of Estonian National Opera in Tallinn and is currently touring Estonia and the Baltic countries.

The choreography has a slight neoclassical twist (just like all of Cristiano’s stage works), but it purposely retains a strong classical language, as an homage to Marius Petipa’s heritage.

With the idea of reimagining Petipa’s long lost version of Cinderella, Cristiano incorporated some typical balletic structures such as a Grand Pas de Deux (Cinderella and Prince), a Pas de Sept (the fairies pas d’action) and a Divertissement (danced by the lead characters at the ball).

In order to achieve so, very few modifications were made to the order in which Prokofiev’s score is played during the show, although most of it is still kept in its original form.

The show is extremely family friendly with its vibrant fairytale colours and its both romantic and comical plot. Cinderella is a strong and witty character who knows how to get out of difficult situations, but her pure and kind heart will grant her further help and guidance provided by her fairy godmother.

"Good things happen to good people".  ​