Cinderella Ballet vs Disneys Cinderella

We all love and know the story of Cinderella. Cinderella is one of my favorite ballets and almost every children's favorite story. The ballet differs a little from the Disney fairytale. In today's blog, I'd like to go over a few key differences from the ballet and Disney movie we all know and love.

Cinderella premiered in 1945 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Original choreography was done by Rostislav Zakharov and music composed by Sergei Prokofiev. The main characters are Cinderella, Step-Mother, Step -Sisters, Fairy Godmother, Prince. It is a French styled ballet, composed between 1940 & 1944. Galina Ulanova played the main role of Cinderella originally at the Bolshoi.

The Fairy GodMother is the main fairy in the ballet, but there are also four fairies that have all been summoned by the Fairy Godmother to help grant Cinderella's wishes to go to the ball. The Winter, Summer, Spring, & Autumn fairy all help create her dress, jewelry, and of course magic glass slippers.

In addition, one of the most exciting character roles is our clock fairy. The clock fairy comes out at the stroke of midnight to remind Cinderella that her magical wish will break and turn her back into her servant clothes & rags. The clock fairy has one of the most exciting parts, coming out on stage with a lit up tutu including led lights, and in all black!

After the ball, the prince goes on a search and travels through foreign land to find the owner of the magic slipper. He travels through The Mediterranean, Orient, Spain, and much more. But still finds no luck.

As we all know how the end of this fairy tale goes, the ballet is very similar. The prince ends up coming to the step-sisters and trying and seeing if the shoes will fit In the end, Cinderella comes out and throws the slipper out. To everyone's surprise, the mystery has been unlocked and Cinderella is overjoyed with happiness she is once reunited with her Prince! They live happily ever after and are happily married as they confess their love for one another.

Stay tuned for more blogs about character spotlights and history of this beloved ballet!