Junior Ballet Antwerp impressed this weekend with a remake of the classical ballet spectacle Cinderella. Music: Sergei Prokofiev. Production that premiered in 2023 and was specially conceived for the beautiful space of the Handelsbeurs in Antwerp. With 3D mapping, stunning results were achieved in a visually rich atmosphere. Alain Honorez and Altea Nuñez had thoroughly revised the libretto to place it in a framework that conflicts less with contemporary norms. In the storytelling they added a dimension. A fairy tale with rough edges. It became a beautiful visual spectacle, a cinematic experience. The live accompaniment by the Belgian chamber orchestra Casco Phil provided vibrant energy. It was beautiful, but now that you can compare, it turns out that the whole thing was somewhat lost in the immense space. On a stage, the focus is on dance, mime, acting performances. A world of difference.
The entire team that worked on Cinderella at the time developed an adapted version for the stage, so it can go on tour. Tibaut Coppens (Cin&Art) wanted to achieve similar effects with the projection as in the Beurs, but now with the help of 2D mapping (two-dimensional) instead of the original 3D. The images of the columned gallery are projected onto a mesh cloth to create the desired depth. The mesh cloth has a certain transparency through which the decorative elements become visible behind the cloth when they are lit. This gives the dancers extra space behind the cloth to remain involved in the action and allow the grandeur of the choreography to come into its own.
Superlative
Developing choreography for an evening-long spectacle of 150 minutes requires tons of imagination and work. Meanwhile, the junior company was able to welcome two new generations of dancers. These young dancers from all corners of the world (Italy, France, England, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Japan, Spain, South Korea, Bulgaria, New Zealand) form a particularly talented, cohesive and strong group. An ensemble brimming with talent. The emphasis in the JBA program is to leverage and capitalize on their strength.
This Cinderella is a tribute to classical ballet with a lot of pointe work, beautiful jumps and lifts. From grace to bravura, the entire palette is displayed. You not only see technique but also emotional depth. In his introduction, Alain Honorez told how the young dancers came into contact with dramaturgy and the development of a character for the first time. They do this with flair, naturalness and panache.
The two sisters are a pair of wild, uninhibited girls, they show off shamelessly, infectiously funny. They demonstrate the inclination toward self-deception: they are the best, the most beautiful, sexiest, but constantly stumble over their own egos. No routine they rattle off. No, they visibly enjoy it. With mimic subtlety and well-timed humor, just like the mother. Their pushiness in scenes with the prince are burlesque. The stepmother (Altea Nuñez) even wants to compete with her own daughters, but must realize that she is getting older, past glory. A negative and positive thread is worked out. They unfold in parallel. A balancing act par excellence. Good comedians are scarcer than good character actors. Here it is not just acting but also dancing. A double task. It requires a sense of rhythm, building in pauses to work toward a climax, understatements, associations, grotesque paradoxes, crazy outfits and gliding on the vibes of the audience. This trio does that convincingly. As a counterweight there is the serene Cinderella, all sensitivity and discretion. But the young girl has a spunky and resilient character and proves resistant to the teasing of her stepsisters. In this story no fairy godmother, it is the spirit of her deceased mother who watches over her. Very beautiful is the scene with the spirits in a swirl of delicate fabrics.
There is a nice interplay with solos and attention to the collective. All registers are opened. Loose ends are tied together. Mother and daughters flirt with the greatest emotions. Yet they are not rogue projectiles. Everything is orchestrated down to the finest details with mercurial play. Their acting is over the top, but delightfully relaxing. Also very amusing is the false alarm when the prince is expected. The choreographers take time to build suspense. The ensemble scenes show dynamic quality. No mistakes, sloppiness or shortcuts. Perfection is approached.
There is the playful interplay between Cinderella and the prince. She does not let herself be caught in his nets easily and eludes him repeatedly in a featherlight game of attraction and repulsion. Her gestures show the stylized precision of a classical dancer and a natural, effortless grace, sensuality and charisma. She is the queen of the ball, but the clock strikes twelve and she must flee.
At the end, a beautiful and tender pas-de-deux unfolds between the two. Two bodies that ultimately merge in a tender kiss.
The performance is a marathon. The dancers must immerse themselves in one character after another with numerous costume changes. All obstacles are taken with bravura without catching their breath. TOP! The company was able to bask in a standing ovation lasting minutes.
On stage
JBA also needs adapted strategies so that the program focusing on stage experience can optimally respond to this situation. That's why creating opportunities. A resilient organization stimulates adaptation and innovation. Talent and capital must be available for the best ideas and be ready not only to change their products and business plan, but also their objectives and aspirations. With this adapted and reworked production, they will soon travel across the country.
The mission of every artist is to connect people. As far as I'm concerned, the value of a performance will always be the audience's reaction. How it touches people: from wiping away a tear of emotion to a tear of laughter. A beautiful performance is a warm blanket for the life we must endure. Art as an antidote. This production will draw full houses, feeds the imagination of the viewer and lets a person dream away for a while longer.