KEY POINTS:
Everyone thinks they know the story of Cinderella, says Christopher Hampson, choreographer of the Royal New Zealand Ballet's exquisite new version of the iconic story.
But his research has revealed that not only do different countries have their own versions - China's is 1400 years old and, in Ireland the lead character is a boy - but individuals also hold singular interpretations dear to their hearts.
Hampson's twist on the tale is utterly romantic, gorgeously set and costumed by perfectionist designer Tracy Grant Lord, and makes new sense out of Cinderella's story. Even as audiences find their seats, the logic is already unfolding on stage with the funeral of Cinderella's mother.
This extra scene bleakly combines with Prokofiev's dark overture, as shadowy figures premonish the evil stepmother and her equally nasty offspring and little Cinderella plants a bouquet of roses on her mother's grave. By the time we have zipped forward into the story and seen the devolvement of the father into helpless alcoholism, those roses have unexpectedly bloomed alongside Cinderella's dedication to her poor old dad.
That the original rosebush becomes a tree of magical and magnificent beauty borrows from another telling of the Cinderella story, by Jules Perrault, and is the abode of yet another version's invention, the Fairy Godmother.
There are layers and layers of gorgeous meaning in this brand new production, effortlessly enhancing the classical tradition of the work through clever choreography and design.
The role of Cinderella is shared by Yu Takayama, Katie Hurst-Saxton and Catherine Eddy, while the princes are Qi Huan, Michael Braun and Brendon Bradshaw.
Qi Huan arrived in the company from China 2 1/2 years ago on the recommendation of the RNZB's former prince-in-residence Ou Lu.
When Lu returned to the Beijing Dance Academy to teach, he discovered Qi Huan, a young dancer, also on the teaching staff of that prestigious institution.
"He kept telling me, 'You are only 22 years old, you should be dancing. Teaching is for later, after 30 years'."
Qi Huan began his training at eight at the insistence of his mother when he would have preferred kung fu or soccer. He won a place at a full-time government dance school, leaving home at 11. Just 16 boys and 16 girls, carefully measured for physical perfection as well as talent, were selected from the 200-300 students who auditioned for places.
At 17, he was selected to attend the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy. But a knee injury in his final year prevented him from taking part in the graduation performance, and led to an operation to reconstruct a badly damaged ligament and months of recuperation. But at 180cm tall and physically strong, he was quickly offered a teaching position.
"Lots of good-body students leave for companies," he says. "They are not staying at school. Tall and strong people are needed to teach pas de deux, to demonstrate."
There was family pressure to stay in the Academy's teaching position, a highly respected professional appointment. But Qi Huan, prompted by Lu, was keen to spread his wings.
"Ten years of training just to teach," he says.
So, with the knee strong again, to which his amazing leaps and elevations testify, he challenged Ou Lu to help him find a company.
"Ou Lu told [RNZB's artistic director] Gary Harris about me and I was sent a contract in December," he says. "In January, I arrived here. I knew New Zealand was a good and beautiful place with not many people.
"It was a shock but I was excited to see another country, to meet other dancers."
Qi Huan's introduction to the New Zealand company was the Tutus on Tour road trip around the South Island. "Very surprising," he says.
Since then, he has danced the lead in Dracula, the father in Harris' Nutcracker, bad boy Brad in The Wedding and Albrecht in Giselle. The princely role in Cinderella will be an iconic one.
The company will tour the work in China in November.
"My mother and my grandparents will come to Beijing for the performance," says Qi Huan.
"It is the first time my family will see me perform professionally, outside of school class."
Performance
* What: Cinderella, with the Royal New Zealand Ballet
* Where and when: Founders Theatre, Hamilton, Oct 4-5; Aotea Centre, Auckland, October 10-14
