March 15 and 16, 2024
Palace Theatre, Connecticut
“The story of Cinderella captures our hopes for all children and youth we cross paths with: that through grace, hard work, and inspiration, beautiful things can happen.”
Ekaterina Shchelkanova
Founder of Open World Dance Foundation
8 years after our premiere of Cinderella with Misty Copeland, Open World Dance Foundation endeavours to bring Cinderella back to U.S. stages!
In 2016, OWDF’s premiere of Cinderella gave 123 children–many with no previous dance experience–the chance to perform alongside American Ballet Theatre stars Misty Copeland and Calvin Royal III. Although most productions give only those with pre-professional and professional dancing experience the chance to perform, OWDF saw Cinderella as an opportunity to give children of all backgrounds the chance to experience the magic of arts. Not only were children able to enjoy performing in a high-quality production alongside professionals at the top of their field, but they were immersed in a comprehensive educational experience. The Foundation treated all participants to over a month’s worth of ballet classes, rehearsals, and lectures on the history of ballet and art.
OWDF continued this tradition the following year in Fort Lauderdale and is now collaborating with Brass City Ballet in hopes of once again bringing this project to life in the historic Palace Theatre!
“This was a chance for a community, some experienced with dance and others not, to expand and explore their minds, bodies, creativity and possibly tap into something within themselves they didn’t know was possible.”
– Misty Copeland, as quoted in Pointe Magazine for OWDF’s production of “Cinderella” in 2016
Earlier this year, OWDF Founders set out to personally move the Cinderella sets and costumes to Connecticut. These sets and costumes were inspired by drawings done by orphans (see below). We plan to hold auditions for Cinderella in the fall of 2023, and participants of our 2023 Summer Program involving children and youth displaced by the war in Ukraine will also have the chance to be considered for this production.
To make this dream a reality for many children and youth, we need your help! To fund the costs of theatre rentals, costume and set transportation, rehearsals, wardrobe and makeup department, and travel for our teachers, OWDF will need the support of those willing to donate to a charitable cause.
As OWDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donators are eligible to claim deduction on federal taxes. Donations can be made directly to the foundation or through our GoFundMe page (coming soon). All proceeds will go directly to funding this production of Cinderella.
For any inquiries, please contact us by email.