YARRAVILLE: Ballerina Leanne Stojmenov is living a fairytale, having landed the lead role in the Australian Ballet’s production of Cinderella.
The principal artist from Yarraville takes centre stage this month in the much-cherished fairytale set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev.
Stojmenov said it had been a buzz working with former Bolshoi ballet director Alexei Ratmansky on the production, promising audiences were in for a visually splendid feast.
“Working with Alexei Ratmansky has been very exciting. He’s one of the most sought-after choreographers in the world,” she said. “He’s a very detailed choreographer and he knows exactly what he wants. Getting your head around what he wants is really challenging, but it’s great to push yourself.”
Joining the Australian Ballet in 2001, Stojmenov has had leading roles in productions including Romeo & Juliet, Madame Butterfly and Swan Lake.
She is relishing her first experience in the Cinderella role. “It’s a telling of the fairytale we all know, but in many ways this is a dark story and Alexei experiments with this side of things.”
» Cinderella is at the Arts Centre until September 28. Book at www.australianballet.com.au or call 1300 369 741.
