If the shoe fits: ADT dancers embrace 'Cinderella' roles this week in Montgomery

Portraying a humble and content character like Cinderella is a very different kind of role for Alabama Dance Theatre’s professional dancer Shannon McGaughey. Based on previous performances, she could have felt at home playing the wicked stepmother instead.

“I’ve done a lot of evil characters,” said McGaughey, 18, a student at Auburn University Montgomery, who will attend Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, Mississippi, this fall. “A lot of the characters have been sassier and have more of an attitude about them. It’s very different because Cinderella is the exact opposite.”

Starting Thursday at 7 p.m. and going into the weekend, McGaughey will share the title role with graduating ADT senior dancer Celeste Herod, 18. The two will alternate the role. There’s no performance on Friday, but Saturday’s is at 2 p.m. and Sunday's is at 2 p.m.

“I think the role is all about humility,” Herod said. “Staying true to yourself and your inner beauty. She’s just so humble. She goes to this ball, and she’s not even thinking about the prince. She’s just happy to be there. All the other girls are focusing on external beauty and trying to get the prince’s attention.”

That prince is a familiar face to McGaughey and Herod. Often, these kinds of male roles go to guest dancers, who arrive at ADT closer to the performance. This time, ADT senior Cameron Caldwell has the royal role.

“It’s been awesome to have him in rehearsals,” Herod said. “Getting to explore the role and the connection deeper. Having him here is really nice for that.”

Kate Seale Smith, ADT’s artistic director, agrees. “His level and his talent has gotten to the place where he is performing the roles that professionals are performing,” Smith said.

Assistant director and resident choreographer Sara Sanford said that when dancers move, they’re not just doing steps.

“They actually have a thought process of 'why am I looking at her,' or 'why am I reaching toward them,'” Sanford said. “It’s very important that they convey the story with their movement, but also with their eyes, their heart and their soul. They really have to exude that.”

McGauhey and Herod also enjoy working with the younger dancers, and still remember what it was like to be in their shoes watching their older mentors dance Cinderella.

“It was one of the first full-length ballets that I’ve done,” Herod said.

Yes, there will be a transformation on stage for Cinderella, courtesy of four fairy attendants.

“They kind of bring each little piece of her gown,” Smith said.

Under the guidance of the Fairy Godmother, danced by Camilla Ohme, the fairy attendants each represent a season, according to Sanford. The fairy dancers each alternate roles as well: Spring Fairy is Chandler Davis and Caroline Ohme. Summer Fairy is Molly Selman and Alexandria Brooks. Autumn Fairy is Amelia Kate Skala and Georgia Vance. Winter Fairy is Addison May or Martha Armstrong.

“They each bring a gift to her,” Sanford said.

There’s also a Lunar Fairy, danced by Cecilia Hamell, and a host of other creatures and attendants.

No, neither Cinderella will wear actual glass slippers on stage.

“They’re not very conducive to dancing,” Sanford said.

Instead, guests will see sparkly pointe shoes on stage, and yes one will be lost by Cinderella for the prince to find her with.

Which brings us to a couple of hilarious characters, the wicked stepsisters — played by male guest dancers Raul Peinado and Mickey Lonsdale. They’ll have a really tough time trying to put on Cinderella’s shoe, at the urging of their mother — Cinderella’s stepmother — danced by Jaclyn Speights.

“They are hilarious and over the top, and everything that you would imagine those parts to be,” Sanford said. “I like to think that Raul is the mean and dramatic one, and Mickey is a little bit aloof and a little bit out there. Sometimes, he forgets that he’s supposed to be not on Cinderella’s side. It’s kind of interesting to watch him being pulled back and forth.”

Tickets for this weekend range from $15 to $30, and are available online at www.alabamadancetheatre.com. For more information call 334-625-2590.

“Don’t wait until midnight to get your tickets,” Sanford said.

The reason there’s no public performance on Friday is that ADT will host two school shows that day.

After Saturday’s performance, for $10 a child can come onstage for the “Party at the Palace,” to meet Cinderella and other characters. Smith said these are available to purchase in advance, or can be bought at Saturday’s show.

“They’ll get a little gift when they leave the stage,” Smith said.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: ADT dancers embrace 'Cinderella' roles this week in Montgomery