Richmond Ballet to bring the magic of ‘Cinderella’ to the stage
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond Ballet is preparing to enchant audiences as it brings the beloved fairytale, "Cinderella," to life next month at the Dominion Energy Center. Accompanied by the Richmond Symphony, the production promises to deliver a visually stunning and emotionally captivating performance, showcasing the grace and talent of its dancers. Among those bringing the story to the stage is Mikell Graf, now in her second season with the Richmond Ballet. Graf takes on the role of the Fairy Godmother, the magical force behind Cinderella’s transformation. "It's a cool experience to learn something so quickly but feel like it's getting better every single day until we're on stage," Graf said. With just three weeks to master all three acts, the cast has been hard at work, balancing multiple roles and intense daily rehearsals. Graf, who performs alongside four male dancers portraying dragonflies for a part during the first act, spoke about the intricacies of the choreography. "It takes a lot of coordination because I'm basically being lifted from one guy to the next," she explained. Beyond the technical demands, Graf hopes to embody the warmth and generosity of her character. "I hope that I can be a sense of light for Cinderella and hope, and I hope that my personal qualities shine in that way," Graf said. With stunning costumes, elaborate sets and the dedication of the dancers coming together, the Richmond Ballet is set to deliver an unforgettable production. Graf is particularly excited for audiences to experience the performance. "When I'm on stage at the Dominion Energy Center, I truly feel the energy from the youngest kids to the older patrons," Graf said. "It's so magical to be part of someone's weekend, date night, someone's outing with their family." The Richmond Ballet’s production of Cinderella runs from Feb. 14 to Feb. 16 at the Dominion Energy Center. You can buy tickets here.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond Ballet is preparing to enchant audiences as it brings the beloved fairytale, "Cinderella," to life next month at the Dominion Energy Center.
Accompanied by the Richmond Symphony, the production promises to deliver a visually stunning and emotionally captivating performance, showcasing the grace and talent of its dancers.
Among those bringing the story to the stage is Mikell Graf, now in her second season with the Richmond Ballet. Graf takes on the role of the Fairy Godmother, the magical force behind Cinderella’s transformation.
"It's a cool experience to learn something so quickly but feel like it's getting better every single day until we're on stage," Graf said.
With just three weeks to master all three acts, the cast has been hard at work, balancing multiple roles and intense daily rehearsals. Graf, who performs alongside four male dancers portraying dragonflies for a part during the first act, spoke about the intricacies of the choreography.
"It takes a lot of coordination because I'm basically being lifted from one guy to the next," she explained.
Beyond the technical demands, Graf hopes to embody the warmth and generosity of her character.
"I hope that I can be a sense of light for Cinderella and hope, and I hope that my personal qualities shine in that way," Graf said.
With stunning costumes, elaborate sets and the dedication of the dancers coming together, the Richmond Ballet is set to deliver an unforgettable production. Graf is particularly excited for audiences to experience the performance.
"When I'm on stage at the Dominion Energy Center, I truly feel the energy from the youngest kids to the older patrons," Graf said. "It's so magical to be part of someone's weekend, date night, someone's outing with their family."
The Richmond Ballet’s production of Cinderella runs from Feb. 14 to Feb. 16 at the Dominion Energy Center. You can buy tickets here.
