World Ballet Company brings Cinderella to Shreveport

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The World Ballet Company is bringing their take on a timeless classic to Shreveport.

Cinderella is best known as the story of a young woman abused by her stepmother and stepsisters.

While that version is the most well-known, Cinderella-like stories can be traced back to oral versions told in ancient Greece and an 1812 written version. Several European and Asian cultures have unique versions influenced by their cultural heritage.

A fairy godmother assists Cinderella in some versions, a fish, who is the reincarnation of her deceased father, in others, and by wishing on the magic tree growing from her mother’s grave in still others. In some versions, the slippers are made of gold; in others, they are made of glass. Some versions end happily ever after, while some include Cinderella’s tormentors receiving a violent comeuppance.

Still, the 1950 Disney version consistently endures and is widely regarded as the gold standard.

The Los Angeles-based World Ballet Company has traveled to over 300 cities and performed in front of over 500,000 people. They will bring 40 international dancers, over 150 costumes, and meticulously crafted sets to Shreveport on October 30 at 7 p.m. at the Strand Theatre for one of the most famous stories ever told.