Gregory Dean:
”Cinderella”
Royal Danish Ballet
October 19, 2020
The Old Stage
When Gregory Dean presented his first full-length ballet, “Cinderella” in 2019, it was an almost hit.
Like any production of “Cinderella”, it has to conquer not only a beautiful - but also a very difficult score, as well as finding a way to avoid being a weaker competitor of “Sleeping Beauty”.
Jon Morell, who also created costumes and décor for RDB´s productions of Liam Scarlett´s “Queen of Spades”, luckily blessed Gregory Dean with an outstanding décor and set of costumes.
Although Gregory Dean stayed on the cautious road, he took several chances. For instance, instead of casting established character dancers as the evil stepsisters, he decided that his Cinderella´s also should also should take on the roles of the ugly stepsisters.
It must be said, that it was not every Cinderella that could nail this other challenge. For this second run, he cast more experienced character dancers like Soloists Camilla Ruelykke Holst and Wilma Giglio. The pivotal role of the ugly stepmother was likewise performed very well by Christina Michanek.
In all, this second run of “Cinderella” is blessed with outstanding work from the RDB´s soloists and character dancers. For instance soloist Nicolai Hansen, in spite of a powdered headgear, managed to bring not only sympathy for the suffering Cinderella and also save her from the ugly stepmother.
Principal Ida Praetorius, who also had the title role in 2019 was back again in the lead and performed the perfect kind and heartbreaking Cinderella. However, this time she was also having Gregory Dean as not only the choreographer, but also as the prince.
By casting himself in the leading male role, Dean gave what the production needed the most, an outstanding, kind and secure partner and prince, who performed on a very high level. It certainly saved the second act.
While having not seen the two other casts of the prince, I can of course not review them. However, I wonder why this production is omitting our two best male principals, Jón Axel Fransson and Andreas Kaas in the role of the Prince.
I am well aware that Royal Danish Ballet is performing more ballets and more performances this year and that will put more pressure on the dancers. However, little is gained if the strategy is that the best dancers are kept from the best roles.
Palace Life
As mentioned above, All “Cinderella´s” is still competing with “Sleeping Beauty”. The Gregory Dean version also features a bunch of fairies, led by four of our best female soloists, Astrid Elbo, Stephanie Chen Gundorph, Emma Riis-Kofoed, Lena Maria Gruber and newcomer Mayo Arii.
Gregory Dean has also created some male ensembles of cavaliers and cadets. In all, he really keeps the ensemble busy and it is a joy to experience the beautiful stage décor.
However, there is still a limit from what you can draw from a simple story like “Sleeping Beauty” or "Cinderella". It is and will continue to be light entertainment.
What Gregory Dean´s “Cinderella” can provide is lots of dancing for the full company and family entertainment for the audience. It is well put together and keeping the company in good strength. It is on its own premises a well-created ballet.
Photo Credits: Henrik Stenberg. Copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet
- 1. Ida Praetorius as Cinderella
2. Ida Praetorius and Gregory Dean as Cinderella and her Prince
3. Camilla Ruelykke Holst as the evil Stepmother with daughters
Comments