“Cinderella,” a fresh retelling of the classic fairy tale through dance, will be presented Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21, at Lewis Auditorium in St. Augustine.
Zoika’s Dance, the local dance studio producing the show, has made a commitment to share the magic of “Cinderella” with children in the community who might not otherwise be able to attend. The team has partnered once again with local nonprofits, Fostering Connections, the Betty Griffin House, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and Deafinite Movement to provide tickets for children served by the organizations to attend the shows for free.
Signing will be provided by deaf interpreter Amanda Villalobos.
“It is our greatest joy to share dance with children,” explained director and choreographer Zoika Garcia. “It is also a joy for young dancers to share what they have worked so hard to create with other children who might not otherwise be able to experience it.”
“Cinderella” combines the beauty and romance of classical ballet with the electricity of contemporary dance genres including hip hop, tap, modern and acro dance. The cast features both professional dancers and young, local dancers.
"Our families love attending the performances Zoika's Dance has shared with us,” said Aubrie Simpson-Gotham, founder and CEO of Fostering Connections. “It has provided our students with exposure to the arts, a wonderful opportunity for fellowship with other families, and strengthening family connections through shared experiences. Attending these performances plants seeds for our students that inspire them to begin to develop their own gifts and talents.
“As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the support of our community to ensure that our students have the opportunities and resources they need to develop their gifts and thrive in life. We are so thankful to Zoika's Dance and the many community partners that make this experience possible for our families.”
Fostering Connections can be found online at fosteringconnectionsfl.org.
Local sponsors of the production are helping to make this possible through their financial support. For information on becoming a sponsor and helping to share this experience with other local children, go to zoikasdance.com/sponsors.
“Cinderella” performances will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday at Lewis Auditorium, Flagler College, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine. Tickets are $20 and $30 and may be purchased online at zoikasdance.com.
