The ballet Cinderella, written by famed Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, will have a unique spin on it at Interlochen. The Interlochen Arts Academy Dance Company will showcase costumes made by a Ukrainian seamstress and costumer when they perform Feb. 10, 11 and 12.

Joseph Morrissey, director of dance at Interlochen Arts Academy, had worked with costumer Galina Krasovskya previously. “I was put in contact with the designer four years ago,” he says, noting that she provided costumes for productions including Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. While the majority of the costumes for this production are from the Hong Kong Ballet, “We really needed some more supplemental costumes.”

However, he was unsure if it would be appropriate to reach out with Ukraine suffering from the invasion by Russia. “I was in Tokyo in August. Two Ukrainians were fellow jury members. I asked and they said, ‘Do it, it will take her mind off it.’”

The ballet will be performed Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 10, 11 and 12. The Saturday show will actually be one of the many drawing cards at the annual campus celebration of the season dubbed Winterlochen. Other activities include acting and animation workshops for kids, an all-ages swing dance, craft projects, sledding – weather permitting, of course – and Kids Conduct, where youngsters will take a short conducting lesson, then conduct the Interlochen Arts Academy Wind Symphony. The afternoon will draw to a close with a free performance of Cinderella. 

The show is also going on the road, with the Interlochen dancers performing at Great Lakes Center for the Arts at Bay Harbor south of Petoskey Feb. 16.
 
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