Ballet Misha will premiere its new production of the ballet “Cinderella” on Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium.

“Cinderella” is a new ballet by Ballet Misha director and Concord resident Amy Fortier and features the professional dancers of Ballet Misha, as well as the Ballet Misha apprentice company and students from the affiliate school Dimensions in Dance, making a cast of over seventy-five dancers. Fortier founded Ballet Misha in 2008 to bring more professional caliber dance performances and opportunities to NEw Hampshire.

This ballet tells the fairy tale story of a young woman forced to keep house for her stepmother and stepsisters until her fairy godmother appears to grant Cinderella’s wish to attend the royal ball. 

“I have wanted to stage my own version of this ballet for many years,” said Fortier. “I love the romantic aspects of the ballet, but also the humor in it. The stepsisters are a lot of comedic relief throughout the ballet.” 

Fortier wanted to stage this particular ballet because it has all the elements that make a great ballet: beauty, love, humor and magic. The production features many new custom-made costumes and set pieces. One of Fortier’s favorite details in the ballet is Cinderella’s sparkly pointe shoes. 

“Ballet dancers understand that a pair of shoes can change someone’s life,” she said. “Every dancer that puts on their first pair of pointe shoes can relate to Cinderella. I spent a lot of time designing and decorating Cinderella’s pointe shoes so they were beautiful but also functional and not too slippery since she has to dance in them.” 

Fortier, a Concord resident for the past 20 years, is excited to bring this ballet to her home city. 

“We have dancers who attend Christa McAuliffe School, Rundlett and Concord High in the performance, as well as professional dancers who live and work in Concord.” 

Kaitlin Griffin, 24, of Rochester, will dance the role of Cinderella. Griffin has enjoyed working with both the other professional dancers and the children who play roles of fairies, mice and bluebirds. 

“I enjoy the storytelling,” Griffin said. “Dancing and interacting with so many characters like the stepsisters, prince, mice and bluebirds is so much fun. Cinderella is kind to everyone, even her stepsisters. I think she is a character a lot of people can admire and root for.”

Aron Silvestre, 22, of Goffstown, will dance the role of Prince Charming. Silvestre has been cast as royalty before in past Ballet Misha productions, but he has worked hard to add dimension to the role of Prince Charming. 

“Dancing the role of the prince has been such a fun challenge,” said Silvestre, who came to ballet by route of musical theater. “I’ve had to rely entirely on movement to convey his personality, his charm, his longing and love for Cinderella.” 

Griffin, Silvestre, and the rest of the cast have been working for three months to prepare this new ballet. 

“There are only a few professional dance companies in New Hampshire, and Ballet Misha is probably the largest, so dancers travel from all over the state to be a part of it,” Fortier said.  “It’s an amazing community of artists that I feel so privileged to work with.”

“Cinderella” will be performed on Saturday, March 29th at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium on Prince Street. Tickets are $20-30 and are available on balletmisha.com.