Arts
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April 4 - April 17, 2015
59
‘Cinderella’ shared through ballet at Chandler arts center BY MEGHAN MCCOY
In the wake of the big-screen adaptation of “Cinderella,” the Gilbert dance studio Ballet Etudes is taking on the popular story of the young woman who loses her slipper at the stroke of midnight. Ballet Etudes’ performances of “Cinderella” will be held at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Tickets range from $16 to $22. Mia Domini, a Gilbert resident, will star as Cinderella in the teen’s first leading role. “It’s a fun role to develop and learn how to act,” the 14-year-old girl said. The performance begins with Cinderella living with her stepsisters and stepmother. Mesa resident McKhayla Pettingill, who performs the role of the fairy godmother, said her character is actually Cinderella’s mother in the performance. “In the beginning of the show, Cinderella is asleep and she is dreaming about her memory of her mother because her mother dies,” the 15-yearold girl said. “The fairy godmother, before she came and surprised her, she is disguised as a beggar woman, testing to see if she was still the kind, innocent girl,” she said. McKhayla said the challenging part of
Mesa resident Madison Cafaro, 18, will perform as spring during Ballet Etudes’ “Cinderella” production at the Chandler Center for the Arts Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. Photo by Stefani Bullard Photography
Mesa resident McKhayla Pettingill, 15, will perform as the fairy godmother. Her character is actually Cinderella’s mother in the performance. Photo by Stefani Bullard Photography
Gilbert resident Mia Domini, 14, will perform as Cinderella. Her role was a fun one to develop, she said. Photo by Stefani Bullard Photography
her role is portraying a very loving fairy godmother through her dancing. “It’s different from other roles I have performed, but really fun to do,” she said. “When I am performing a specific role, it takes me away from the real world and I enter into a different story through another personality and I can express the character through my dance.” Mia said Cinderella sees her fairy godmother after her stepsisters and stepmother leave for the ball. “The fairy godmother gives her a beautiful dress,” she said. “She falls in love with the prince at the ball. The clock strikes midnight and she loses her slipper
and meets the prince days later and falls in love and gets married.” Mesa resident Madison Cafaro is performing the role of spring, as well as being in the king’s court. She said spring is a bright character that gives Cinderella her shoe. “It’s really fast and it involves a lot of little jumps (and) travels all around the stage, so it is really fun,” said Madison, 18. Mia said her favorite part of the performance is when she changes into a beautiful gown, meets the prince and dances with him. “It’s really fun to be a princess,” she said.
Mia said as a young girl she always watched Disney movies, so her role as Cinderella is exciting. McKhayla said before she joined Ballet Etudes she remembers watching a performance of “Cinderella.” She said she yearned to be Cinderella or the fairy godmother. “It’s just really beautiful how dancers are able to express a story without words, but through dance,” McKhayla said.
FRIDAY APRIL 17 6-10 PM
Live Music by Outside the Line 50+ Talented local artists Great downtown shops & restaurants! Art Walk Sponsor:
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Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors, Spirituality, Arts and Youth section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.