A night to 'make magic'

COEUR d'ALENE - Stephen Straub made the trek from Boulder, Colo., to Coeur d'Alene for one reason: The opportunity to be the prince in "Cinderella."

COEUR d'ALENE - Stephen Straub made the trek from Boulder, Colo., to Coeur d'Alene for one reason:

The opportunity to be the prince in "Cinderella."

"I have danced many princes before, but never the prince who gets to dance with Cinderella, not yet, so it will be nice to add this to the list," he said shortly before beginning his first rehearsal here.

Straub has a lead role in the production being put on by Ballet School of Coeur d'Alene, owned and operated by Ceci Klein.

The single show is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at North Idaho College's Schuler Auditorium.

It's the classic story of the poor, mistreated, but beautiful girl who overcomes the evil efforts of her step-sisters and step-mother and wins the prince's heart.

Klein, the director, choreographer, trainer "and everything else," said this version of the famous tale will deliver an unforgettable evening.

The cast of 42 dancers - starting from as young as 7 - has undergone rigorous training since October and is talented, dedicated and anxious to take the stage. Klein is hoping to fill the seats.

"I want everyone to come and see children that do very professional work because they're so devoted to their classes. This is what they aspire to do," she said.

"Come and see children that have become so proficient at doing this that some people mistake it for a professional show," Klein added.

She likes Cinderella because there are so many opportunities for everyone to be involved, from the youngest ones posing as mice, to the intermediate as pages and trumpeteers and the more experienced as the prince, the princess and the fairy godmother.

Key to it all, she said, is the interpretation.

"All of my dancers can do the steps,' Klein said. "All of my dancers are proficient, especially at that level, but the role of Cinderella requires acting ability, exuberance, honesty and interpretation."

Klein said she can suggest to the dancers how to carry out a role and they can follow her instructions and do it well.

"But then it would become a parody of the personality," Klein said. "But if the personality is in that body, that's what I use. She definitely is Cinderella. She more than I hoped for."

She is Kylee Solberg.

The 15-year-old from Coeur d'Alene will be playing Cinderella for the first time in her dancing career that began at age 8.

"I'm really excited. It's a huge opportunity," Solberg said. "I have a lot of fun with it. I love the acting, along with the dancing, and becoming someone else, being able to have that magic of being on stage."

Solberg said she wants to bring "real sense' to her character whose foot fits the glass slipper in time for the happy ending.

"I don't want to plaster on this fake personality to her. I try to be as real as I can with her and have fun with it at the same time, really, just be in the role," she said.

Straub is equally delighted to be the prince.

He began tap dancing at 8, and moved on to ballet. He met Klein through Brooke Klinger, who attended Klein's school and has continued her dancing.

Straub and Solberg met for the first time last week to begin practicing for their roles, but Klein has no doubts they'll be ready to shine.

"She's prepared, he's prepared, then they come together and we make magic," Ceci said.

"We're just going to keep working and working and working," Straub said.

"I think it will be a lot of fun, more than nervous once I get on stage," Solberg said.

Klein said the Ballet School of Coeur d'Alene isn't big, but the dancers there excel.

"I don't make a lot of money, but I make good dancers," she said.

The two-and-a-half-hour show includes three acts and four scenes.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for children. They are available at the Ballet School of Coeur d'Alene, 212 Spruce, or at the door, which opens at 6.

If you go

The Ballet School of Coeur d’Alene will perform “Cinderella” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at North Idaho College’s Schuler Auditorium. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for children. They are available at the Ballet School of Coeur d’Alene, 212 Spruce, or at the door, which opens at 6.