Enchanting Cinderella Ballet
Headington Rye’s ballet dancers put on a run of stunning performances of ‘Cinderella’ towards the end of January 2025.
This production marks Headington Rye’s third dedicated Ballet show in recent years, showcasing the talent, creativity and dedication of the girls involved, both backstage and in the limelight. The Ballet was performed to a packed audience of pupils, staff and parents over three shows.
From the graceful movements of Cinderella herself, played by Mary (Year 12) to the comedic brilliance of the Ugly Stepsisters, played by Chloe and Grace (Year 10) the performance delighted and entertained at every turn.
The choreography, directed Miss Elspeth Wilson, Headington Rye’s dedicated Ballet teacher, masterfully balanced the delicate storytelling of Ballet with moments of humour and drama, captivating the audience from the opening scene to the final bow. Girls from the Prep School were involved throughout the performances and playing key roles alongside their older peers.
The production stayed true to the heart of the classic Cinderella story, weaving themes of love, kindness and transformation through choreography and music and was met with rapturous applause and cheers.
Miss Wilson said: “The performance was a culmination of weeks of rehearsal, both in and out of class, and as always it is a joy to bring together dancers from both the Prep School and Senior School to work together and learn from each other.
“The story of Cinderella is a familiar one, of a young girl who overcomes adversity thanks to a bit of magic generated by her kindness to others. This is something that I see every day through the friendships developed in Ballet class and I hope all my students take away a bit of Cinderella’s resilience and kind-hearted nature to add to their own.
“I would like to thank all the staff behind the scenes who helped me put the show together. A special thank you to all of the Dance Department who have supported me and also continue to encourage and develop a love of dance in all the dancers we all saw on stage.
“Thank you to the parents for helping their children access this beautiful art form and of course well done to all the dancers who have worked exceptionally hard to bring you this Ballet.”
