- October 3, 2024
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Gracyn Thomas and Alivia Kabanuk. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Alivia Kabanuk will play the part of Cinderella in the upcoming ballet. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Nora Graydon, as Blue Bird, and Alivia Kabanuk, as Cinderella. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Alivia Kabanuk, as Cinderella, and her mice. Photo by Jarleene Almans
Madison Gracia, Mallorie Hubble, Josie Stove, as Little Birds on couch, joined by mice, Nora Graydon, as Blue Bird, and Alivia Kabanuk, as Cinderella. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Alivia Kabanuk will play Cinderella in the upcoming ballet. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Alivia Kabanuk and Nora Graydon. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
This Cinderella doesn't wear glass slippers.
Alivia Kabanuk, a local Daytona State College student, will star as the lead in European Performing Arts Conservatory's first major production, to be presented at the Seabreeze High School theatre at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 2. The ballet, "Cinderella," will feature all of the Ormond Beach studio's students, along with professional guest artists and actors from the Daytona Playhouse.
Kabanuk, who has been dancing since she was a toddler, said she was really excited when she found out she would be playing Cinderella in the ballet.
"It could have been a few other girls in the studio," Kabanuk said. " ... There's a video of me jumping up and down."
Studio owner and Artistic Director Kaley Marshall said she knew Kabanuk would be a perfect fit as Cinderella after watching her perform in their Christmas show. Kabanuk was playing the Christmas fairy.
"I saw her on stage and I'm like, 'I can see her as Cinderella," Marshall said. "She's really portraying the part just as I want, or even better than I expected."
And Marshall is pretty familiar with the ballet, seeing as she performed her first dance solo at 8 years old to "A Dream is a Wish," and then at 13, played Cinderella herself.
Marshall, who has danced her whole life, took over the studio last summer after she was approached and given the opportunity. It was an easy yes, she said. Since then, the Palm Coast native has relocated European Performing Arts Conservatory to its new home at 128 N. Nova Road.
"You see a lot of things differently as a studio owner, compared to just teaching at a studio or anything like that," she said. "But it is pretty amazing just because you get to make everything your own and you get to make the decisions. I've been learning along the way too and just trying to make the best of it, and what we've been doing this past year has been really incredible."
One of her first thoughts after taking over the studio? Cinderella would be a great ballet to produce.
Playing the role of the prince is Gracyn Thomas, a junior at Atlantic High School. "Cinderella" will be his first show with the studio, having joined in January. He's been dancing for a year and a half, and he's part of the Nautica Dance Company at his school.
"Joining dance there, it's really opened up my options and just made me better as a person," Thomas said.
He's used to putting on big shows, but "Cinderella" is a bit different.
"Doing a big show that's just ballet — it's a lot," Thomas said.
Though Thomas started dance later than others in the studio, Marshall said, he is working really hard.
"He has a gift," she said. "He definitely has some amazing talent."
Kabanuk has danced with a lot of different studios throughout her life. She said she loves dancing with the European Performing Arts Conservatory.
"Our environment is very loving," Kabanuk said. "We're very close and you just don't find that in other places."
That was one of Marshall's big goals when taking over the studio. She wanted to make sure the students were happy while receiving good dance training.
"The studio is starting to really grow, so that's making me really happy," Marshall said.
Visit epaconservatory.com.
