CINDERELLA | REVIVE

February 25-27, 2022 at DeVos Performance Hall

Grand Rapids Ballet kicks off our 50th Anniversary, reviving youthful memories from the classic fairytale, Cinderella, choreographed by renowned choreographer Ben Stevenson, O.B.E. This timeless story journeys alongside Cinderella as her dreams are turned to reality by her Fairy Godmother before she dances the night away with her Prince at a dazzling ball. The Grand Rapids Symphony performs Sergei Prokofiev’s melodic score, as the audience watches Cinderella’s story unfold, leading to her happily ever after.

We welcome you to explore all of our 2021-22 season performances via Ticketmaster using the red button below or by specific performance dates and times using the dropdown below!

CINDERELLA | DATES & TIMES

Friday, February 25, 2022

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Sunday, February 27, 2022

CINDERELLA | COUNTDOWN

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CINDERELLA | CREATORS

Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.

Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.

Choreographer

Biography

Ben Stevenson served as artistic director of Houston Ballet from 1976-2003, raising the company from a regional troupe of twenty-eight dancers to an internationally acclaimed ensemble of over fifty artists. For his contributions to international dance, Mr. Stevenson was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) by Queen Elizabeth II in the New Year’s Honors List in December 1999. In April 2000, he was presented with the Dance Magazine Award. In July 2003, he was appointed artistic director emeritus of Houston Ballet, and the company’s affiliated school was renamed Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy. Mr. Stevenson, a native of Portsmouth, England, received his dance training at the Arts Educational School in London. He appeared with the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet and English National Ballet where, as a principal dancer, he performed leading roles in all the classics. In 1967, English National Ballet asked him to stage his first, and highly successful, production of The Sleeping Beauty, which starred Margot Fonteyn. In 1968, Rebekah Harkness invited him to New York to direct the newly formed Harkness Youth Dancers. After choreographing Cinderella in 1970 for the National Ballet in Washington, D.C., he joined the company in 1971 as co-director with Frederic Franklin. Mr. Stevenson has received numerous awards for his choreography, including three gold medals at the International Ballet Competitions of 1972, 1982, and 1986. In 2018, Mr. Stevenson was acknowledged by the Chinese government as one of the most influential Foreign Experts in the past 40 years since China initiated its policy on Reform and Opening Up. In July 2003, Mr. Stevenson assumed the artistic directorship of Texas Ballet Theater in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Prokofiev

Composer

Biography

Russian composer and pianist Sergei Prokofiev was born in 1891 in Sontsovka, a small village in Ukraine. Early on, it was clear that he had musical talent. His mother, who was a very good pianist, encouraged him, and taught him to play the piano. Sergei began composing at the age of five. When he got a bit older, he and his mother moved to St. Petersburg, so that he could study music there. After Prokofiev graduated from school, he traveled around Europe to learn more about music. World War I and the Russian Revolution made living and working in Russia very difficult, so Prokofiev left the country in 1918. Paris eventually became his home, but he also spent time in the United States and the Bavarian Alps. But the whole time he was away from Russia, Prokofiev longed for his homeland. In 1936, he made the unusual decision to move back to the Soviet Union. Prokofiev was a master at using music to tell a story. One of his most famous musical stories is Peter and the Wolf, which was written for Russia’s Central Children’s Theatre. You may have seen it performed in school, or on the concert stage. In addition to symphonic music, Prokofiev wrote ballets, operas, and music for films — like Lieutenant Kijé

CINDERELLA | SAFETY & ENTRANCE DETAILS

For the safety and comfort of all who attend our performances, for the foreseeable future, we are implementing updated health and safety protocols. Patrons attending a live, indoor performance must present proof of vaccination OR proof of a recent negative COVID test before entering the venue and must wear a mask inside the theater at all times, regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated guests 11 years of age and younger will not be required to provide negative test results. Guests are asked to not attend any events if, within the past 14 days, they have had any COVID symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19. All guests must wear a mask. Read more about our policies here.

Please know, DeVos Performance Hall instituted a no bag policy, which includes bags, backpacks, or purses other than those required for medical reasons or diaper bags. Small clutches, up to 12x9x3 will be permitted. Bags in the medical/essential category will be screened in a secondary screening area. The No bag policy reduces contact between guests and security staff by eliminating the need to search these items. This is part of ongoing efforts to promote a contact-free experience. Learn more.

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