Alina Somova’s Cinderella

Critics have referred to Alina Somova as a “hypnotic phenomenon” in ballet, extolling the “young dancer’s talent and phenomenal temperament,” “beauty and bearing” of this “truly Russian blonde with tremendously long legs and a measureless stride to match.” Over nine seasons at the Mariinsky Theatre this “refined ballerina with her ideal lines, sense of pose and beautiful physical features” has performed in almost every classical ballet.

One of Somova’s greatest works in recent years has been the role of the Tsar Maiden in Alexei Ratmansky’s ballet The Little Humpbacked Horse to music by Rodion Shchedrin. The dancer was awarded Russia’s national Golden Mask theatre prize for this role as well as flattering praise from Maya Plisetskaya, the composer’s muse and the first performer of the role of the Tsar Maiden.

Cinderella is a continuation of her gallery of fairytale characters through the eyes of Ratmansky. The ballerina will be partnered onstage by Alexander Sergeyev as the Prince.