 (1).png.jpg)
“Cinderella,” a fresh retelling of the classic fairytale through dance, will be presented by Zoika’s Dance on May 20 and 21 at Lewis Auditorium. A fun show for the whole family, “Cinderella,” combines the beauty and romance of classical ballet with the electricity of contemporary dance genres, including hip hop, tap, modern and acro dance.
Performances will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20, and at 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21. Lewis Auditorium is located at 14 Granada St., St. Augustine. Tickets are $20 and $30 and may be purchased online at zoikasdance.com.
“We are thrilled to tell this story with both vibrant, contemporary dance and classical ballet,” explained director and choreographer Zoika Garcia. “It offers something exciting for everyone."
St. Augustine dancers Claudia Mueckay and Jake Karger will portray Cinderella and the Prince. The two have danced together since they were children, bringing a closeness and genuine connection to their roles. They will be joined onstage by dancers Mileena Bicknell and Catalina Davis, reprising their roles as Cinderella’s stepsisters. Tegan Bracewell, who also dances with Dance Alive National Ballet Next Generation, will portray the Fairy Godmother. Young vocalists, led by professional soprano and vocal coach Lisa Lockhart, will sing a musical selection before each performance. Signing will be provided by deaf interpreter Amanda Villalobos.
Professional dancers and actors will join young dancers in the production. The role of Cinderella’s Stepmother will be portrayed by professional tap dancer Jenne Vermes. She will be joined by fellow professional dancers Sean Mansfield (tap/hip hop), Amaani Grant (hip hop, contemporary, tap), Katie DeAcutis (hip hop), Alex Rubio (tap), Christie Woodson (tap) and Kayla Rooney (hip hop). St. Augustine actors and musicians Tommy Bledsoe and Joy D’Elia will reprise their roles as the King and Queen.
Garcia is committed to sharing the magic of “Cinderella” with members of the community who might not otherwise be able to attend. Zoika’s Dance has partnered with local nonprofits, the Betty Griffin House, The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, Deafinite Movement and Fostering Connections to provide tickets for children served by the organizations to attend the shows. Local sponsors of the production are making this possible through their financial support.
For information on becoming a sponsor and sharing this arts experience with local children, go to zoikasdance.com/sponsors.
