Cinderella

Markéta Pimek Habalová

Cinderella, directed and choreographed by Markéta Pimek Habalová, returns to the stage of the National Theatre Brno with a new production after forty long years. The new production is designed by well-known Czech names Pavel Knolle (costumes) and David Janošek (set design).

In the person of choreographer Markéta Pimek Habalová, who is close to the contemporary movement language, NdB Ballet has gained a creator whose light and playful choreographic vocabulary combined with Prokofiev’s music will be the best combination for creating a new and fresh Cinderella for the next generation of ballet audiences. Her attributes are contemporary movement vocabulary, playfulness and wit.

On stage, the audience will see what Cinderella’s home looks like, the Prince’s castle, as well as an enchanted forest where elves and other magical creatures live. „The biggest inspiration for me when creating the set design for the ballet Cinderella was the space of dreams and night. The infinity of the sky and the depth of the dark blue world of dreams, the night sky, the moon, the stars… Cinderella journey to light, to magic, to transformation, to love,“ Janošek describes his inspiration for the scene.

The costumes are dominated by elegance combined with playfulness and magic. They were created by Czech dancer, former head of the Laterna Magika artistic ensemble and designer Pavel Knolle, who, in his own words, was carried away by the mutual energy of the production team and the beautiful fairy tale, a fantasy without limits. The costumes reflect the character of the individual characters and are an integral part of the stage action.

And for whom is the ballet Cinderella intended? ,,I think it will be for everyone who likes fairy tale stories and happy endings, danced and performed live, as they say live now. Try to come and believe that kindness and a good heart still wins. Whether you are small or big,“ says Pimek Habalová.

 

Choreography and Direction Markéta Pimek Habalová
Conductor Ondrej Olos  
Set Design David Janošek  
Costume Design Pavel Knolle

 

  • “The dance structure is colourful, brimming with a range of fresh ideas. It clearly moves away from purely classical poses — a muted neo-classical quality filters through the texture, topped with dynamic transformations. The visual impact is effective and plays into the ballet's overall mood, as Pimek Habalová peels back the saccharine crust of the fairy tale — revealing characters at times through satirical exaggeration and witty lightness, without that meaning she remains on the surface. She doesn't pander, yet acts and creates as if in passing. Her directorial and choreographic concept has no dead spots; the performance has pace and flair. The choreographer approached the staging with a dramaturgical and directorial boldness that paid off, drawing on her erudition, musicality, and inventiveness.“ Lucie Dercsényi

    ;