Cinderella casts spell with ballet on ice St. Petersburg troupe gives colorful interpretation

ORONO – How do you breathe new life into a classic tale? Use a dazzling array of color and impressive ice dancing.

That’s what the skaters of the St. Petersburg State Ice Ballet did Saturday afternoon with the tale of Cinderella.

Many of those in attendance at the Maine Center for the Arts were children, who were more familiar with the Disney version of the teen girl who is transformed from virtual servant to princess in one magical 24-hour period.

But “Cinderella on Ice” is actually based on the ballet of the same name, originated by Frederick Ashton in 1948 and set to music by Sergei Prokofiev. While following the ballet may have been challenging to some of the younger children, anyone familiar with the traditional story could pick up on the narrative.

The production ran smoothly for two hours with an intermission, but its momentum slowed considerably in the second half of the second act, as the prince skated through obvious dance pieces while seeking the missing wearer of the glass slipper.

St. Petersburg is a hotbed of Russian figure skating, and that was apparent in the level of the skating in “Cinderella on Ice.” Many of the cast members were formerly city, regional or national medalists.

Still, the production was a ballet first and foremost, with few of the flamboyant jumps and spins skating enthusiasts are accustomed to in televised competitions. (Perhaps that was for the best on the smallish MCA stage.) Yet the skating was markedly better than that found in most U.S. ice productions.

Another star of the production had to be the vibrant costumes and ornate backdrops used – a real feast for the eyes. Inexplicably, the castle backdrop continued to be employed even after Cinderella returned to her home, but that’s a small quibble.

“Cinderella on Ice” was an enjoyable combination of figure skating and classical ballet, which kept all but the very youngest audience members engrossed.