big w ballet dance shoes

So why do we still love this story of a dysfunctional family and their much-abused daughter? Perhaps it’s because we know the tale so well, and we like the idea about virtue being rewarded. But perhaps it’s also that narrative ballets have a pull on our imagination as no other form of dance has. In the case of Ballet San Jose’s version, which opened Friday, the credit has to go to Alexsandra Meijer, about as perfect a Cinderella as you are likely to see. This longtime company member gave a glorious, fully integrated and nuanced performance.

“The female version can be a bit of a trap,” says Altarena director Richard Robert Bunker, “Since the storyline and many of the lines are the same as the original male version, there’s a temptation for actors to play their characters just like those in the male version, But I really wanted big w ballet dance shoes that female sensibility, I asked my actors to remember relationships and conflicts with female friends and to bring that history into their roles.”, And Bunker’s cast does just that, Emily Garcia (often seen on the Lesher Center stage) plays Olive Madison with abandon slinging clothes and shoes from one end of Angelo Benedetto’s well-appointed set to the other, Caroline Schneider adds her own edgy performance as Florence Unger, While the female version isn’t as strong as the male, it still provides lots of laughs and insight into friendships, As with the male version, the appearance of the Costazuela brothers (the Pigeon sisters in the male version) is the highlight of the show, Joseph Rios (Jesus) and John Vincent Burke (Manolo) completely steal the scene with their spot on comedic timing..

Foothill College. “Raúl Cañibano: Storyteller.” Jan. 21 through March 11. The first solo exhibition in the Western United States by the Cuban photographer. Krause Center for Innovation Gallery, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Opening reception 7-9 p.m. Jan. 21. Admission is free; parking is $3. http://raulcanibano.wordpress.com. Gallery House. “Meeting Point,” paintings and prints by Kyoko Fishcher, Feb. 3 through Feb. 28. Reception 6-8 p.m. Feb. 13. Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. Gallery House, 320 S. California Ave., Palo Alto. 650-326-1668.

The judge told Sharp the sentencing agreement also calls for him to receive a one-year enhancement for causing great bodily injury on Chapman, The convictions all will be lodged as big w ballet dance shoes “strikes” on Sharp’s record, the judge said, meaning the defendant faces a possible sentence of 25-to-life if he’s convicted on any felony in the future, None of the victims’ relatives who were in court Thursday agreed to be interviewed about the sentence, Defense attorney Michael DeWeese said he had discussions with the District Attorney’s Office earlier about settling the case, He said the evidence against Sharp “was somewhat compelling.”..

“Cirque de la Symphonie”: Acrobatics and holiday hits conducted by Edwin Outwater; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Davies Hall, San Francisco; $29-$115; 415-864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org. “Philharmonic Fire”: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra holiday program includes Bach cantatas, works by Monteverdi and Vivaldi and the “Frost Scene” from Purcell’s semi-opera, “King Arthur”; Dec. 5-9 in San Francisco, Stanford and Berkeley; $15-$120; www.philharmonia.org. “The Little Prince”: Opera Parallèle presents Rachel Portman’s enchanting children’s opera based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless novel; Dec. 7-9, Marine’s Memorial Theater, San Francisco; $55-$75; 415-392-4400, www.operaparallele.org.