Cinderella, English National Ballet, Mayflower, Southampton (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cinderella, English National Ballet, Mayflower, Southampton

11:20am Friday 30th April 2010

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The English National is a company that rarely disappoints, and this production of Cinderella keeps up the reputation.

Fantastic sets and glorious costumes ensure its aesthetic prowess, and some utterly fantastic choreography from Michael Corder - so quick and precise - satisfy the technical side.

Daria Klimentová is simply mesmerising as Cinders, never putting a foot wrong, and Vadim Muntagirov's effortless jetés as the Prince were superb.

Indeed the athleticism was truly impressive throughout, with Anton Lukovkin's Dancing Master exhibiting fantastic legwork.

Corder clearly likes to tinker with the pas de deux, to great effect, and the large showpieces give the whole show that ENB pizzazz.

Injecting some hilarity into proceedings, particularly in the orange dance, Crystal Costa and Begoña Cao's Ugly Stepsisters were just right, while Désirée Ballantyne's Fairy Godmother was suitably ethereal, though I couldn't help but be disappointed with her nymph-ish costume... it's got to be a huge big gown for her, every time.

Act II of III was by far the most enjoyable, its crescendo thunderous, and perhaps emphasising that this performance is a little over-long.

Nonetheless, it's a ballet of the highest calibre.

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