Ballet Theatre of Washington Presents a Spin on 'Cinderella'

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Those who attend Friday and Saturday performances of “Cinderella” as offered by the Ballet Theatre of Washington in Centralia will see many of the familiar themes from both the folk tale and the version made popular by Disney.

They’ll also see new rib-splitting twists that are completely new to the story.

“Well, the two stepsisters are played by two guys,” said Mick Gunter, who along with his wife Nancy operates both the Ballet Theatre of Washington and the Centralia Ballet Academy. “They’re pretty hilarious.”

The casting of Jaysten Barada and Daniel Hawkins as the stepsisters came as the Gunters sought to find roles for all 35 dancers and community members who auditioned for the show.

They’ll be joined on stage by a number of new characters, such as the lead jester, played by Giovanny Garibay, who leads a corp of younger jesters. Cavaliers have also been added to the story to help make room for the large pool of dancers.

“We have a lot of guys who audition, and it’s like, ‘What are we going to do with it?’ But it worked out great,” Gunter said.

The cast is comprised of 11 members of the Ballet Theatre of Washington and 18 additional community members.

The title role of Cinderella will be shared by Gillian Holgate and Jaelynn Mettler. Likewise, the role of the Prince has also been double cast, with James Iselin and Matthew Hawkins sharing the duty.

“With a lead role you always want to make sure if anything happens you won’t be out one of those lead roles,” Gunter said.

With intermission, the show will last for about two hours.

Gunter is confident attendees will be treated to a performance they’ll remember.

Though there have been thousands of variants of “Cinderella” over time, the most memorable theme is that of a woman oppressed by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. She eventually finds love and fortune in the arms of a prince after attending a ball.



Mick and Nancy Gunter, veteran dance producers, chose “Cinderella” because it represented a new challenge.

“We chose this one because we’ve not done it, and as far as we know, this has not been performed in Centralia, as far as the full ballet,” Gunter said, adding that it will be accompanied by the Prokofiev’s classic score.

While many of the common “Cinderella” themes will be on full display, the ballet version will be different than what many are familiar with.

“The ballet is a little different,” he said, comparing it to the animated Disney version. “We don’t have mice in this one. Instead, we have grasshoppers and dragonflies. But it’s the story of Cinderella pretty much. We’re not going to deviate much from the major story.”

The ballet will be the latest in ongoing efforts to provide opportunities and mentorship to local dancers through the Ballet Theatre of Washington, which is focused on more than just performances.

The company is a way for dancers to improve, whether they plan to pursue a career in the arts or not, Gunter said. Company members, who must be 11 years or older, benefit from extra classes and the teachings of master instructors brought in from Portland, Seattle and elsewhere. The Gunters also seek to expose dancers to opportunities outside of Lewis County, whether it’s dance festivals in Olympia, attendance at large-scale shows or intensive training from connections in the industry earned by the Gunters.

“If you want to continue to advance, this is the way to go,” Gunter said.

He said those who choose to join the company will find a warm environment for learning and advancing, regardless of whether dance is pursued as a career.

“It’s a very supportive atmosphere I haven’t seen much anywhere,” he said.

To learn more about the Ballet Theatre of Washington, visit www.balletwashington.org or call 360-623-9010.

There will be three performances of “Cinderella:” The first is at 7 p.m. Friday. There are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows set for Saturday. The performances will take place at the newly renovated Liberty Theater, 413 N. Tower Ave., Centralia. The theatre is inside the Bethel Church building in downtwon Centralia. The performances are in partnership with the Bethel School of the Arts.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children, students and seniors. Get tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2914851 or by visiting Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis or Holley’s Place in Centralia.