SF's Cinderella Ballet, A New Holiday Habit

The Nutcracker has long been a holiday family staple.  The unbeatable ballet with it's beautiful score by Tschaikovsky has finally been cracked.  Christopher Wheeldon's new ballet, Cinderella, set to composer Sergei Prokofiev's music is a magical ballet that provides a much broader appeal for children, adults & ballet lovers alike.  Cinderella is a beautiful tale of integrity & true love.  The story flows fluidly as does the dancing.  The choreography is elegant, the dancers are sublime and the sets are dazzling.  This Cinderella is engaging for all ages as the energy & with never letup.  The numerous lifts by the dancers are magnificent.  The Palace Ballroom scene is especially entertaining.  I enjoyed the  waltzing of the ensemble and the dancing by the foreign princess's vying for the prince's affection.  The lighting cast by the numerous chandeliers is stunning.  There is a humorous enebriated dance by the cruel stepmother that is delightful.  Wheeldon pays homage to the Nutcracker.  Nonetheless, Wheeldon's Cinderella provides an engaging ballet for old & young alike and another beautiful & lasting gift.