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It is my privilege to welcome you to Shumka's Cinderella. You, the audience,
energize us when the curtain opens and we are allowed to share with you
the fruits of our creativity and heritage. Let the music, the dancers,
the theatricality, and above all the story, take you on a rewarding emotional
journey. From the moment the first note sounds, we want you to enter the
fascinating world of Cinderella... Shumka-style.
Throughout history people have given a special place to their heroes
and heroines, telling and re-telling their stories. Growing up in a small
community, I was fortunate to be part of a story-telling tradition and
a tradition of celebration. Everyone in the community worked hard, and
on the weekends, both young and old got together, and celebrated.
They sang and danced. They listened to stories about everyday heroes
who overcame personal tragedy, fought in the great wars, and unselfishly
helped others. Every person in the community believed that if they could
talk or walk, they could also sing, dance and tell stories. This was the
experience and expression of every emotion of their life and culture.
Stories told again and again by people of all cultures became the folk
tales we have all enjoyed. Classical music and ballet historically looked
to folk tales for adaptation, recognizing that these folk tales were timeless
and a constant delight to audiences. What Shumka has undertaken in Cinderella,
and what we are asking you to join us in, is a creative journey that puts
the folk dance back into the folk tale.
In my research I came across hundreds of variations of the Cinderella
story. In the end the one that continued to capture my imagination was
the classic Perrault version with which we are all familiar. Building
upon the belief that Shumka's style of dance theatre has evolved into
a language of Ukrainian dance and music that can tell any story, the exciting
process of evolving Shumka's own Cinderella began.
The movement of Ukrainian regional dance styles, the poetry of folk melodies,
the spirit of the rise of Ukrainian nobility, the vibrant paintbrush of
village arts and the expressive energy of the European baroque period
became the backdrop for our inspiration. The gifted talents of the dancers
and the creative team were then engaged to make real the vision of Shumka's
Cinderella.
I want the audience to be transported into the story of Cinderella, her
love, her quest, and lose themselves in a tale unfolding through the language
of Ukrainian dance.
Everyone Cinderella encounters is changed and is left richer in character
for having met her. I hope that you will be left richer in spirit for
having shared the experience of Shumka's Cinderella.
Gordon Gordey
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