'Cinderella's' magic reborn

Sergei Prokofiev's "Cinderella" has been reborn into a full masterpiece production by the minds of choreographer Jacques Cesbron, set and costume designer C. David Higgins and conductor Imre Pallo. The ballet, which Cesbron has envisioned for more than a year, now is gracing the Musical Arts Center stage. This is the first Cinderella-story ballet production of its size and kind in IU history, and many are eagerly anticipating the event. \n"We are hoping to pack the house for both nights to make all the hard work pay off," said graduate student and stage manager Michael Forbes. \nCesbron used an arts and humanities research grant from IU to study different versions of Cinderella in Paris and the New York Dance Library, according to an IU media press release. The result is a production of 43 dancers and more than 140 costumes custom-made for each dancer and movements that changed with every rehearsal. \n"I used over 1,000 steps," Cesbron said. "Each movement was tailored for the dancer."\nCesbron videotaped the rehearsals, studied them and improved what he didn't like. Jenna Wolf, a senior majoring in ballet performance, said the rehearsals were challenging. \n"It was stressful and tiring to do but fun because of acting," Wolf said. "We used ballet techniques that were masked by acting." \nThe movements are the heart of the ballet. Cesbron was not satisfied with being just a studio teacher and wanted to beyond by creating a ballet.\n"I want to go beyond teaching," Cesbron said. "It gives me a sense of purpose to create. ... You feel you were worth something on this Earth." \nAccording to the press release, Cesbron promises a "very classical, very traditional" "Cinderella" that preserves Prokofiev's vision, avoids contemporary movement, reinstates parts of the composer's score cut by other companies and eschews slapstick-style comedy in favor of a more demanding, humoresque technique.\n"Cinderella" remains almost unchanged, but the choreography is classical romantic dance. Small features were added from other versions of the Cinderella story to enhance the performance, including mice, which were adopted from the Disney version, and a jester, a creation of Cesbron's mind. The jester was added for comic relief and to supplement the dancers' individual talents. \n"This ballet is for a modern audience by introducing a story people are familiar with and are entertained with," said Chris Nachtrab, a Junior majoring in ballet performance. \nBallet techniques have been infused with acting to create an entertaining and inviting ballet for all ages and genders. \n"My 7-year-old sister can go to this ballet because she already knows the Cinderella story and be entertained by the movements of the ballet and the acting of the dancers," junior Allison DeBona said. \nVirginia Cesbron, associate professor of music and ballet mistress, said anyone in the Bloomington and IU communities can enjoy the show. \n"This is a magical ballet fairy tale that has magic to appeal to parents, children and students," she said.\n"It's an enchanting story that people will come to with open minds and hearts. This will bring them special feelings that will be inspired by the ballet." \nPerformances of "Cinderella" begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available at $12 to $20 for the general public and $8 to $16 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Musical Arts Center Box Office Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or by phone through Ticketmaster at 333-9955.\n-- Contact Photo Editor David Bracho at dbracho@indiana.edu.