By Janika ter Ellen
A young ballet dancer's dream has come true with her casting as prima ballerina in her favourite childhood fairytale.
Lucy Green has got her big break as Cinderella in the Royal New Zealand Ballet production, now showing at Wellington's St James Theatre.
When you meet the pint-sized softly spoken Green, it's hard to imagine who would make a better Cinderella.
The role is the 21-year-old Secret Lives of Dancers star’s first lead role.
“It's every little dancer's dream to do the big three-act ballet in the principal role, and this was my first time, so it was such a big thing for me, such an exciting moment.”
There's no ugly stepsisters in the picture, but success for Green hasn't been without hard work.
The man who made her dancing dreams come true, choreographer Chris Hampson, didn't even notice Green when she started with the Royal New Zealand Ballet two years ago.
“In all honesty I can hardly remember. I just remember there was a new batch of dancers that came in, and, you know, she was a nice dancer.”
Green put in the hours, improved, and earned her ticket to the ball.
Now it's about getting through two hours of non-stop dancing.
“You can't go and get a sip of water or wipe the sweat, it's just sort of, you've just got to keep going.”
But the dress with 190,000 crystals makes things a little easier.
“You have to sparkle, and yeah, this helps.”
The shoes fit, too.
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