{"id":106499,"date":"2023-04-03T19:17:13","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T02:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=106499"},"modified":"2023-04-18T19:31:28","modified_gmt":"2023-04-19T02:31:28","slug":"sf-ballets-cinderella-magical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/sf-ballets-cinderella-magical\/","title":{"rendered":"SF Ballet’s Cinderella – Magical!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Misa Kuranaga in Wheeldon’s Cinderella\u00a9 \/\/ \u00a9 Lindsay Thomas<\/p><\/div>\n

San Francisco Ballet presents Christopher Wheeldon<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Cinderella<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a9<\/span><\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>set<\/span><\/span><\/span> to Sergei Prokofiev\u2019s score, March 31 to April 8, 2023 at San Francisco\u2019s War Memorial Opera House, orchestra conducted by Martin west.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>This three act ballet is glorious in its visual storytelling, production design and of course, the fine tuned precision and flourish of the San Francisco Ballet.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The leading and character roles are played by a different cast at each performance and on opening night, March 31, 2023 Cinderella was danced by Misa Kuranaga. This role is strenuous in the amount of choreography and emoting the character does in her journey as an orphan to fulfil her dreams of going to the ball. We all know the story and what happens eventually, but Wheeldon took elements from several versions of the Cinderella story as told decades ago, and this Cinderella is fresh in the new ideas and imagery it brings.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Misa Kuranaga and Isaac Hern\u00e1ndez in Wheeldon’s Cinderella\u00a9 \/\/ \u00a9 Lindsay Thomas<\/p><\/div>\n

Kuranaga is notable as Cinderella with lovely projection and sublime, fluid movement throughout all her solos, duets and when she joins other groups along the way. Throughout the entire ballet she sustains her light dance quality and goes through a range of emotions from sadness to pure joy and wonderment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jennifer Stahl as Hortensia, the stepmother is beautifully strange, usually accompanied by her two daughters, Cinderella\u2019s stepsisters, danced by Elizabeth Powell and <\/span><\/span>Ellen Rose Hummel, forming a deliciously quirky and powerful trio with choreography and angular movement to match.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Prince Guillaume danced by <\/span><\/span>Isaac Hernandez is Cinderella\u2019s romantic lead and works well with his childhood friend, Benjamin, danced by charismatic Esteban Hern\u00e1ndez. Their sword interplay is mirrored in Act 1 when the boys were young children and then become grown up versions – this makes a connection and through line to focus on throughout <\/span><\/span>the story timeline.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Tiit Helimets plays Cinderella’s Father partnered with Cinderella’s Mother, <\/span><\/span><\/span>Kamryn Baldwin in some tender parental moments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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San Francisco Ballet in Wheeldon’s Cinderella\u00a9 \/\/ \u00a9 Lindsay Thomas<\/p><\/div>\n

A curious group of characters in dark blue and black waft in and out of each act adding an ethereal element to the storytelling. They are \u2018helpers\u2019 as in various genres of theatre and performance and interact with and around Cinderella and others somewhat like a Greek Chorus, moving the story forward and facilitating otherworldly action. These are the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Fates, a dynamic group danced by <\/span><\/span><\/span>Daniel Deivison-Oliveira, Steven Morse, Alexander Reneff-Olson, John-Paul Simoens. The Fates are a vital part of this witty reimagining of Cinderella – and they look like they are having too much fun!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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San Francisco Ballet in Wheeldon’s Cinderella\u00a9 \/\/ \u00a9 Lindsay Thomas<\/p><\/div>\n

Outstanding scenic and beautiful costume design by the renowned Julian Crouch is creativity personified. Stunning sets and transitions truly transport the audience into the magical nether world and back to reality with clever choices that work together perfectly with Wheeldon\u2019s imagination and vision. Lighting design by Natasha Katz and Projection design by Daniel Brodie are all part of this magic together with Basil Twist for his show stopping tree and carriage sequence direction\/design.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you have not yet seen Wheeldon\u2019s Cinderella, do so, it will take you away to where anything is possible! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

More Information:<\/p>\n