When I moved here in 1999, the Tower was closed, there was no Les Schwab Amphitheater and the idea of being able to see opera or ballet here seemed impossible.
Fifteen years later there are film festivals, a burgeoning theater community putting on challenging and thought-provoking work, live music almost every night of the week and the opportunity to see a world-class ballet company putting on "Cinderella" at the Bend High School Auditorium.
The Eugene Ballet Company has not only been performing across the country for more than 35 years, but also in India, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Taiwan and many other places around the world. For its 2014 season, they're bringing a Prokofiev scored version of Cinderella.
EBC's co-founder Toni Pimble has designed original choreography to the piece that was written by Prokofiev from 1940-1944. There will also be some Central Oregon kids playing the sprites and fairies Cinderella runs into in her adventures.
"It's very family friendly," said Pimble."It has comedy in it and, of course, it's a fairy tale story of Cinderella."
Parents who are passionate about ballet and want to share that interest with their children are usually stuck with showing them some variation of The Nutcracker. There is no problem with that because The Nutcracker is a timeless classic for a reason, but having Prokofiev's Cinderella come through instead, is a unique opportunity for children to be exposed to a medium they are not familiar through a story they know well. Eugene Ballet has come to Bend a few times over the years and they've always left a powerful impression, and with Prokofiev's "Cinderella" they have a chance to share their art with an entirely new generation.
Cinderella
7:30 pm. Sat., Nov. 8
Bend High School, 230 NE 6th St.
$12-42. Tickets available at bendticket.com
