Durham Ballet Theatre presents Cinderella

Durham Ballet Theatre, a Durham, N.C.-based dance institution, is bringing a little magic to the Bull City with a performance of the family-friendly storybook ballet, Cinderella, at the Carolina Theatre at 2 and 6 p.m.

The mission of Durham Ballet Theatre is to provide inclusive and accessible public performance opportunities for groups that are underserved culturally, economically, and artistically in the Durham community. In the last eight years, the organization has featured than 200 local performers and professionals, produced more than 13 productions, and attracted almost 9,000 audience members.

This cast of the upcoming Cinderella combines Durham-based performers (recruited from an open audition) and professional dancers who are visiting from major companies, including Jared Brunson, Assistant Artistic Director of Ballet Virginia, Sadie Grider, courtesy of Greensboro Ballet under direction of Christine Cervino, and Forrest Hershey, Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Elon University. The infamous role of the wicked stepmother will be played by Kevin Montegut, who will make his debut performance with the Durham Ballet Theatre after retiring from the legendary drag ballet troupe, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. In addition to classic ballet techniques, the show will feature aerial arts such as the silks, the lyra (or aerial hoop), and the trapeze.

A selected audience of members across a range of neurodiversity and economic backgrounds has been invited to a no-cost sensory friendly performance of the show on May 16, to improve access for everyone to experience the arts.