Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why does Cinderella's variation fly under the radar when it's one of the hardest solos in ballet? In this Ballet Deconstructed breakdown, I'm analyzing Alina Cojocaru's stunning performance of Frederick Ashton's Cinderella variation with The Royal Ballet. You'll discover why this seemingly simple solo is so technically challenging and why it's so under appreciated, and what makes Alina's interpretation world-class. If you love ballet or want to understand what separates good from great dancing, this deep dive is for you!
Watch the full variation: youtube.com/watch?v=EhWywbSrviw
About Frederick Ashton's Cinderella:
Created in 1948, Ashton's Cinderella is a masterpiece of storytelling through dance. Unlike the flashier variations that get all the attention (looking at you, Black Swan!), this solo requires absolute mastery of the basics - and that's what makes it so difficult and so under appreciated. The score is written by Sergei Prokofiev.
ð¬ ððð+ ðð¥ðð¬ð¬ðð¬ ðð§-ðððŠðð§ð: kmandfriends.com/ondemand
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â Absolute Beginner? Start ðððð: app.arketa.co/iframe/kmandfriends/series/oJwl4rpeqTwTp5UdRS5U
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â ððšðð² ððšð¬ð¢ðð¢ðšð§ð¬ Workshop: app.arketa.co/kmandfriends/videos/checkout/UUZ855M0jGhhyBFWw7jA
â ðð¢ð§ð€ð¢ð§ð ðððð©ð¬ Workshop: app.arketa.co/kmandfriends/videos/checkout/jBTElIwQqm9PkZ9Es2eL
ðð¡ðð«ð ððš ð ð¢ð§ð ðð
⥠My Website: kathrynmorganonline.com
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⥠Join Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1639478456312276
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________________
âš ðð¡ðð«ð ðð«ððð ððððð¬ ðð«ðð¯ð¢ððð¬âš
Welcome to a world where ballet isnât something you have to train for - itâs something you can live. Iâm Kathryn Morgan, former New York City Ballet soloist, entrepreneur, and your guide to a more elegant, intentional, ballet-inspired life.
For over a decade, my subscribers have trusted me to translate the beauty, discipline, and storytelling of ballet into everyday inspiration. Iâm not here to be your technique teacher - I translate 20 years of professional ballet elegance into accessible beauty, lifestyle, and cultural content for sophisticated women who value timeless grace over fleeting trends. Iâm here to bring ballet to you, and then bring you into ballet through honest insights, real stories, and a lifetime of experience both onstage and off.
ððð° ðð¢ðððšð¬ ðð¯ðð«ð² ðððð€!
_____________________________
ðð°ð®ðŠ ððªð¯ð¬ðŽ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¢ð§ð§ðªððªð¢ðµðŠ ððªð¯ð¬ðŽ. ð ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ðŽð®ð¢ðð ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ðªð§ ðºð°ð¶ ð±ð¶ð³ð€ð©ð¢ðŽðŠ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð© ðµð©ðŠð® ð¢ðµ ð¯ð° ðŠð¹ðµð³ð¢ ð€ð°ðŽðµ ðµð° ðºð°ð¶!
#cinderella #balletbreakdown #royalballet #kathrynmorgan #ballerina
0:00 Intro
0:18 Cinderella Flies Under the Radar
0:56 Fredrick Ashtonâs Choreography
1:17 Itâs Never Done Out of Context
1:59 There is No Grand Pas
2:33 Solo Opening
4:15 Ashton Loves a Roll Down
6:06 So Much Control
7:04 Ashton is so Musical
7:53 Hops on Pointe
8:28 The Hardest Step
11:01 What Makes This Turn So Hard
11:43 Switching Time
12:53 Alinaâs Beautiful Coordination
13:42 Alinaâs Shoes & Port de Bras
14:42 Simplicity at itâs Finest
15:10 The Double Menage
19:00 The Full Variation
21:15 Wrap Up
Why does Cinderella's variation fly under the radar when it's one of the hardest solos in ballet? In this Ballet Deconstructed breakdown, I'm analyzing Alina Cojocaru's stunning performance of Frederick Ashton's Cinderella variation with The Royal Ballet. You'll discover why this seemingly simple solo is so technically challenging and why it's so under appreciated, and what makes Alina's interpretation world-class. If you love ballet or want to understand what separates good from great dancing, this deep dive is for you!
Watch the full variation: youtube.com/watch?v=EhWywbSrviw
About Frederick Ashton's Cinderella:
Created in 1948, Ashton's Cinderella is a masterpiece of storytelling through dance. Unlike the flashier variations that get all the attention (looking at you, Black Swan!), this solo requires absolute mastery of the basics - and that's what makes it so difficult and so under appreciated. The score is written by Sergei Prokofiev.
ð¬ ððð+ ðð¥ðð¬ð¬ðð¬ ðð§-ðððŠðð§ð: kmandfriends.com/ondemand
ðïž ðð¡ðšð© ðð² ððððšðŠðŠðð§ðððð¢ðšð§ð¬: amazon.com/shop/tutugirlkem
ð©° ðð² ððšð®ð«ð¬ðð¬
â Absolute Beginner? Start ðððð: app.arketa.co/iframe/kmandfriends/series/oJwl4rpeqTwTp5UdRS5U
â 6 Month ððð¯ðð¥-ðð© Ballet Course: app.arketa.co/iframe/kmandfriends/series/498SCkk7UKjs1qB1v8mE
â Turnout ðð«ðð§ð¬ððšð«ðŠððð¢ðšð§: app.arketa.co/iframe/kmandfriends/series/6c2P99qgrFl9C18MA475
â Video Auditions ðððð ððð¬ð²: app.arketa.co/iframe/kmandfriends/series/Zptj2bsajWMpsZxiSrc8
â ððð«ð«ð ðððððð Workshop: app.arketa.co/kmandfriends/videos/checkout/iMfgrvHLchEkkumUfO09
â ððšðð² ððšð¬ð¢ðð¢ðšð§ð¬ Workshop: app.arketa.co/kmandfriends/videos/checkout/UUZ855M0jGhhyBFWw7jA
â ðð¢ð§ð€ð¢ð§ð ðððð©ð¬ Workshop: app.arketa.co/kmandfriends/videos/checkout/jBTElIwQqm9PkZ9Es2eL
ðð¡ðð«ð ððš ð ð¢ð§ð ðð
⥠My Website: kathrynmorganonline.com
⥠Instagram: instagram.com/kathryn_morgan
⥠Facebook: facebook.com/KathrynMorganBallet
⥠Join Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1639478456312276
⥠Pinterest: pinterest.com/kathrynmorgan88
⥠Video Shoutout: cameo.com/kathrynmorgan
⥠ððšð§ðððð: kathrynmorganinquiries@gmail.com
________________
âš ðð¡ðð«ð ðð«ððð ððððð¬ ðð«ðð¯ð¢ððð¬âš
Welcome to a world where ballet isnât something you have to train for - itâs something you can live. Iâm Kathryn Morgan, former New York City Ballet soloist, entrepreneur, and your guide to a more elegant, intentional, ballet-inspired life.
For over a decade, my subscribers have trusted me to translate the beauty, discipline, and storytelling of ballet into everyday inspiration. Iâm not here to be your technique teacher - I translate 20 years of professional ballet elegance into accessible beauty, lifestyle, and cultural content for sophisticated women who value timeless grace over fleeting trends. Iâm here to bring ballet to you, and then bring you into ballet through honest insights, real stories, and a lifetime of experience both onstage and off.
ððð° ðð¢ðððšð¬ ðð¯ðð«ð² ðððð€!
_____________________________
ðð°ð®ðŠ ððªð¯ð¬ðŽ ð¢ð³ðŠ ð¢ð§ð§ðªððªð¢ðµðŠ ððªð¯ð¬ðŽ. ð ð®ð¢ðº ðŠð¢ð³ð¯ ð¢ ðŽð®ð¢ðð ð€ð°ð®ð®ðªðŽðŽðªð°ð¯ ðªð§ ðºð°ð¶ ð±ð¶ð³ð€ð©ð¢ðŽðŠ ðµð©ð³ð°ð¶ðšð© ðµð©ðŠð® ð¢ðµ ð¯ð° ðŠð¹ðµð³ð¢ ð€ð°ðŽðµ ðµð° ðºð°ð¶!
#cinderella #balletbreakdown #royalballet #kathrynmorgan #ballerina
0:00 Intro
0:18 Cinderella Flies Under the Radar
0:56 Fredrick Ashtonâs Choreography
1:17 Itâs Never Done Out of Context
1:59 There is No Grand Pas
2:33 Solo Opening
4:15 Ashton Loves a Roll Down
6:06 So Much Control
7:04 Ashton is so Musical
7:53 Hops on Pointe
8:28 The Hardest Step
11:01 What Makes This Turn So Hard
11:43 Switching Time
12:53 Alinaâs Beautiful Coordination
13:42 Alinaâs Shoes & Port de Bras
14:42 Simplicity at itâs Finest
15:10 The Double Menage
19:00 The Full Variation
21:15 Wrap Up
