CINDERELLA A BALLET BY DAVID NIXON OBE RESOURCE PACK Introduction This resource pack gives KS2 and KS3 teachers and pupils an insight into Northern Ballet’s Cinderella. It can be used as a preparatory resource before seeing the production, follow up work after seeing the production or as an introduction to Northern Ballet or ballet in general. Contents • The History of Cinderella • • Characters • • Story • • About Northern Ballet’s Cinderella • • Costumes • • Sets • • Music • • Creative Team • • Terminology • • Gallery • Click on the links on each page to Terminology is highlighted and can find out more (external websites). be found at the back of this pack. This resource pack was created in autumn 2019. Photos Bill Cooper, Riku Ito, Emma Kauldhar and Dolly Williams. Cinderella is a universal story which has been re-written and retold in many different countries and cultures around the world. The oldest account of the story is from China, dating back to the 9th century AD. The well-known classic fairy tale was written by Charles Perrault and published in France as Cendrillon in 1697. Cendrillon told the story of a virtuous girl, whose mother dies, resulting in her being treated inhumanely by her family. In the end she is rescued by magical love from her mother beyond the grave. Task: How many elements of the Cinderella story do you know? A Stepmother and two Stepsisters A ball which Cinderella is not allowed to attend A visit by a Fairy Godmother The History of Receiving glass slippers Being home by midnight Losing a glass slipper Cinderella A Prince searching for the girl that fits the slipper There are numerous films, books, ballets and pantomimes which tell the story of Cinderella, all with their own interpretation. The first major ballet production of the fairytale was choreographed by Marius Petipa for Marinsky Ballet in St Petersburg, Russia in 1893. Most famously, composer Sergei Prokofiev wrote a new score for Cinderella, performed at the famous Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia in 1945, choreographed by Rostislav Zakharov. Performed after the Second World War when communist Russia was in a state of oppression, Cinderella was a popular story to portray in the country as a story of a down-trodden girl triumphing against all odds. The history of Northern Ballet’s Cinderella Over the last 50 years, Northern Ballet have created and performed four 1993 Choreographed by Christopher Gable different versions of Cinderella, by four differentchoreographers. Christopher Gable said of Cinderella: ‘Cinderella is principally a story about the difficulties of growing up. In every version Cinderella has to come to terms with the fact that life is not always easy, 1973 and that it is only by meeting Choreographed by Laverne Meyer with our problems and solving them that we can hope to Laverne Meyer’s interpretation of come to a successful maturity.’ Cinderella was a classical fantasy, Cinderella was Gable’s first full- closely following Charles Perrault’s length ballet and was received Cendrillon. It was a ballet of three Christopher Gable with critical acclaim, hailed acts which was new for Northern ‘a Cinderella for the 90s’. Ballet - before this the Company had only ever performed one act ballets. Poster from the autumn 2019/spring 2020 tour Laverne Meyer of David Nixon’s Cinderella 2019 1979 2013 David Nixon chose to revive his 2013 Choreographed by Robert De Warren Choreographed by David Nixon OBE production of Cinderella for autumn 2019 / Robert De Warren revived David Nixon’s Cinderella first spring 2020. There are some adaptations in Johann Strauss’ ballet, premièred in Leeds in 2013 and this revival including a new Fabergé inspired Aschenbrödel, which means toured extensively in 2014. In ballroom. Cinderella in German. Prior to his career as a dancer, Nixon Northern Ballet’s revival the performed in Valery Panov’s last time the ballet had been Cinderella, dancing his most performed was over 60 years memorable performances with before in Vienna. The story is his wife. This left him with a set in a department store and is fondness for the tale and a wish a ballet of three acts. to create his own Cinderella ballet. The ballet is set in Imperialist Russia, a wintery Task: landscape for the classic Cinderella is a famous story told all over fairytale. the world. Create a list of all the versions of Cinderella you know including books, films, theatre shows and TV programmes. Here are two to get you started: Poster from the 1980 tour of Robert De Poster from the 2014 tour of David A Cinderella Story (2004) Warren’s Cinderella Nixon’s Cinderella Disney’s Cinderella (1950) Characters Cinderella Prince Mikhail A lonely young woman who is forced to become The Prince who falls in love with Cinderella a servant for her Stepmother after her Father’s at the winter ball and, with only her crystal untimely death. She longs to be accepted and slipper as a clue, searches high and low for to escape the suffering and oppression that the mysterious girl for whom the shoe will fit. has been forced upon her. Cinderella is played Prince Mikhail is played by two dancers; by two different dancers; showing a young showing a young Prince and an adult Prince. Cinderella and an adult Cinderella. Count Serbrenska Prince and Princess Mulakov Cinderella’s father, a loving parent who dies Parents to Prince Mikhail and good friends of Count tragically at a picnic in the countryside of Moscow. Serbrenska, they were at the picnic on the terrible day of the Count’s death. They host the ball where the Prince first asks Cinderella to dance. Stepmother Nikolai Cinderella’s Stepmother who, overcome with Prince Mikhail’s best friend who tries to stop grief, blames Cinderella for the Count’s death Cinderella’s Stepmother interfering at the ball, and and forces her to become her servant. helps the Prince in his search to find Cinderella after she leaves behind her crystal slipper. Natasha and Sophia Magician Cinderella’s Stepsisters. They are jealous of the Moved by Cinderella’s kindness, the Magician attention Cinderella receives and, under their insists Cinderella will go to the ball and uses his mother’s orders, are not allowed to have anything amazing magic to conjure a beautiful sleigh which to do with Cinderella. transports Cinderella, under a starlit sky, to the winter ball. Story: Act 1 A winter market in Moscow The countryside outside Moscow ime has passed and Cinderella is Tshopping at the winter market. Released momentarily from the drudgery of her servant life, she enjoys watching the spectacle of stilt walkers, acrobats, jugglers and a Magician. The Prince and his friends watch on as the Magician starts his performance. Cinderella recognises the Prince as the young boy from the picnic years ago but the Prince doesn’t even look at the poor young woman that Cinderella has become. Cinderella returns home followed by her Stepsisters who are excited about the events at the market. They want Cinderella to join in with their games but, rejecting her once again, her Stepmother reminds her that she is not to have anything to do with her daughters. t is an idyllic summer afternoon and a picnic is being The crystal lake Iheld to celebrate Cinderella’s birthday. Her Father, Count Serbrenska, gives her a shawl as a gift and they are joined by Cinderella’s Stepmother and her Stepsisters, Natasha and Sophia. inderella flees to the Prince and Princess Mulakov, who are good friends of the beautiful crystal lake; her Count, arrive with their son, Prince Mikhail. As the afternoon C sole refuge from the life continues, the young people play and the adults stroll or join she leads. The lake is full of a shooting party on the other side of the river. skaters and amongst them Natasha and Sophia decide to play a game with Cinderella’s is the Prince, his friends new shawl and accidentally throw it to the other side of the and the Magician from the bridge. Having been warned not to cross the river, the girls market. Cinderella’s do not go after the shawl. Seeing how upset his daughter is, ice-dancing is impressive Count Serbrenska goes to retrieve the shawl when tragedy and catches everyone’s strikes and he dies. attention. Cinderella’s Stepmother, falling into grief and despair, reaches out to her daughters but blames Cinderella for the On returning home, Cinderella finds her Stepsisters have received invitations to a winter Count’s death and offers her no comfort. ball. Cinderella has been invited too but her Stepmother rips up her invitation and reminds her that she belongs downstairs. Summer passes and as the bereaved family arrive at their new house in Moscow, Cinderella’s Stepmother makes it Cold and alone in the kitchen, Cinderella thinks sadly of the past and of what her life has clear that Cinderella’s new life is no longer as a daughter but become. Hearing a knock at the door, she finds the Magician from the market square as a servant for her family. shivering in the dark. Finding comfort in his company she invites him in. The Magician, inspired by Cinderella’s generosity, insists that Cinderella will go to the ball. Story: Act 2 The drawing room The winter ball he Prince is in search of the girl Tfrom the ball and shows the family the slipper. He ignores Cinderella as she serves the company, but her Stepmother shows the Prince that this is the girl who fits the shoe. Feeling fooled and embarrassed, he becomes angry and flees the room. The kitchen inderella is humiliated and for the first time, Cstands up to her Stepmother.