Review: 'Cinderella' by the World Ballet Company
Originally published on The JOLT News on February 24, 2026
Last Sunday, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts was filled with families dressed for the occasion of seeing World Ballet Company’s (WBC) “Cinderella.”
What a happy sight to see the princess costumes, other pretty dresses, and smiling families of both the young and young at heart. Charming and adorable were the tidbits of conversation I heard walking through the halls or eavesdropping on conversations from my seat. It was pure delight.
A show that can bring this much joy to local families deserves to be celebrated, but then you look at the high skill level and caliber of the production altogether, and it leaves you speechless.
I invite you to take a moment to turn on your imagination and awaken your inner child so that you can visualize alongside me the pure magic of it all as you read my review.
The review
Looking at the photographs from this ballet, it is easy to see that the overall production design was bright, colorful, enchanting and perhaps cinematic. Experiencing the magic in real life took it to the next level.
Each set took me to a whole other place. The house Cinderella lived in had a big window, and I wondered what land lay in that great beyond. When the Fairy Godmother came into the picture, she took us to a land of flowers that was breathtaking to behold with all its colors and intricate designs.
A big clock entered the picture that added a steampunk dynamic in a way that was refreshing. Then the ballroom itself, and the way the production played with it to show when characters were inside versus outside, was elegant, timeless and entirely whimsical.
Then you look at the costume, make up and hair design, and it is stunning! Again, the colors were bright and each costume had these intentional touches that made each role distinct.
Looking at the ball scene alone, you see a certain color palate displayed between the guests, the environment, etc. Then enter the step mother and sisters, and their costumes do not match anyone else's in color, tone or design.
This distinction helped the eye focus more on them, but it also was symbolic to show that those characters were out of touch with society and could actually be considered outsiders themselves. Of course, the characters do not see that because they are classical narcissists, and that is what makes it so funny.
Being up close, I could really see the details in the makeup. Naturally, some of it was made darker to exaggerate details for every audience member to see, but there was something about it that was reminiscent of the golden age of Hollywood. This added a dramatic flair while increasing its nostalgic appeal.
Up close, I could see that rather than wearing traditional wigs, it looked like the cast was primarily wearing their natural hair styled, and then covering it with a thin sort of cloth covered with finishing touches to make it look like the hair. This is really clever because it is more sustainable for everyone.
Storytelling happens in hairstyles, as the affluent members of society wore wigs (except for the younger gentleman who could get away with natural hair). Cinderella was forced to get away with natural hair because she was poor. Thus, hair becomes less of a commodity and more of a tool to display the economic class and gender role differences.
All the production design details really painted a magnificent picture for the audience, but what made that picture come to life was the incredible acting and dancing.
Each dancer gave facial expressions that were extreme in the emotion their character was facing.
To a certain degree, it could have been considered campy at times, but it was not because it felt fitting with all the other flares the production provided. The grand facial expressions also made it easy for the kids in the audience to follow along and laugh at the appropriate moments.
I love that they made Cinderella funny, because it can and should be! Cinderella should never make you leave feeling sad like it has done in other productions, but hopeful and joyful, and the World Ballet Company accomplished exactly that.
Observing all these details in person was the créme de la créme, but I really invite you to look through the pictures I shared in this column and the ones WBC shared online to see if you can find these details.
Thank you, WBC, for bringing out my inner little girl! Please come back to Olympia, and when you do, bring your Great Gatsby ballet.
https://thejoltnews.com/stories/review-cinderella-by-the-world-ballet-company,28284