Debuts in Cinderella

Scene from the ballet Cinderella

On 17 January the title role in Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Cinderella with choreography by Alexei Ratmansky at the Mariinsky Theatre will be danced for the first time by Maria Shirinkina, having already appeared in the role on a tour by the Mariinsky Ballet to the USA when she was partnered by Vladimir Shklyarov as the Prince. The duo received lavish praise from the American critics – “Maria Shirinkina, a second soloist with the Mariinsky Ballet, and principal dancer Vladimir Shklyarov who performed the pas de deux perfectly brought to mind the great names of Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn and Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland.”

On 18 January the role of Cinderella will be performed by Natalia Sologub, prima ballerina with the Dresden Ballet (Semperoper). Artistic Director of the Dresden Ballet Aaron Watkin has referred to Sologub as “a unique phenomenon in the world of dance” and critics have stated that “her manner of presenting herself and her dance are something truly special. She has elegance, delicacy, great power and professional consistency. Her skills allow her to gain pleasure from her own performance and the audience to enjoy it.” Prior to 2006 Natalia Sologub danced with the Mariinsky Ballet and twice won the Golden Mask award (as Masha in The Nutcracker in 2002, created by choreographer Kirill Simonov specially for Natalia Sologub and for William Forsythe’s Steptext in 2005). Natalia Sologub was among the soloists who rehearsed the premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s ballet Cinderella in 2002. Following the premiere critics named the dancer “the best thing in the production,” noting that “a new kind of ballet character has been born, one that is captivating not because winning virtuoso skill but because of her utter femininity like a flower of the field in its quiet, earthy beauty. Sologub depicts the path of a modest dancer who cleans the floors in class when other perform the solo to a lead character before whom a garden of delights and human harmony open up in the magical finale.” Natalia Sologub will be partnered by Konstantin Zverev who is making his debut as the Prince.

Also making a debut in the performance on 17 January at the Mariinsky Theatre will be Alisa Sodoleva in the Spanish solo in the Female Dance