There is something magical about seeing Cinderella come to life on stage. The familiar story, beautiful costumes, music, transformation, and, of course, the carriage and the ball invite audiences into a world where anything seems possible.

But for the young dancers performing in Atlanta Ballet 2’s production of Cinderella, the magic goes even deeper.

This production gives young dancers the opportunity to perform in a ballet created specifically for them, while families can watch their children become part of a timeless story and create memories that last long after the curtain closes.

For internationally acclaimed choreographer Bruce Wells, creating these opportunities has been at the heart of his work for decades.

Creating Opportunities for Young Dancers

Wells has spent more than 50 years as a choreographer and teacher, working with ballet companies and schools across the country. Along the way, he noticed a gap in performance opportunities for young dancers. Children often performed in The Nutcracker, but after the holiday season, there were few opportunities to return to the stage. “There were no further performance opportunities until the end of school year recitals,” Wells explains. “It was a desert of creativity for six months.”

His response was to create family ballets specifically for young dancers. Cinderella is Wells’ sixth family ballet and his fourth for Atlanta Ballet 2. Rather than simply adding children to an existing professional production, Wells creates the ballets specifically for them. “These family ballets were different,” he says. “They were created specifically for and set on children.”

That distinction gives young dancers the opportunity to learn choreography, develop characters, rehearse as an ensemble, and experience the excitement of performing in a full theatrical production.

A Ballet for the Whole Family

Wells designs his family ballets to introduce young audiences to the joy of ballet through engaging, one-hour productions. Narration helps audiences follow the story as it moves quickly from one scene to the next.

“The story always comes first, then I make the story dance,” Wells explains.

For Cinderella, the story begins with an open-air market where the characters are introduced one by one. The approach helps younger audience members understand the characters before the action begins. “I want the audience to enjoy the performance, to feel engaged with it,” Wells says. “And the narration helps to achieve that.” The result is a production designed to welcome everyone — from children experiencing ballet for the first time to parents, grandparents, and longtime ballet lovers.

Where Young Dancers Shine

One of Wells’ favorite elements of his family ballets is what he calls “Ballet 101” — a glimpse of classical ballet within the larger story. Audiences will see principal dancers, soloists, and a corps de ballet, including dancers en pointe and in tutus. But Wells also wants the production to offer something for everyone.

“Even a child who is not overly interested in ballet will find enjoyment in other stage activities that help to convey the story,” he says.

Wells has seen firsthand the special connection that develops when children perform for children. Recalling a moment when he watched students he had taught perform one of his ballets, he remembers seeing the energy move between the stage and the audience. “I saw the synergy and the magic right in front of my eyes,” he recalls. “Children love seeing other children on stage and the children who were performing could also see their friends in the audience.”

That exchange is part of the magic of live performance. Young dancers inspire the children watching them, while the energy of the audience gives performers something in return.

A Memory Families Can Share

For families, Cinderella is about more than an afternoon or evening at the theater. It is getting dressed for a special occasion, finding your seats, watching the lights dim, and seeing a child, grandchild, sibling, or friend step onto the stage.

For the dancers, it is seeing familiar faces in the audience and knowing that the people they love are there to share the moment. It is also an opportunity for families to see the dedication behind a dancer’s journey — the rehearsals, repetition, teamwork, and courage required to perform in front of a live audience.

For some dancers, Cinderella may be one of their earliest major performance experiences. For others, it may be another step toward a professional career. Either way, they are learning what it means to be part of something larger than themselves.

A Little Theater Magic

Wells has filled Cinderella with theatrical surprises. The scenery itself becomes part of the storytelling, transforming in front of the audience rather than disappearing backstage.

“At the start of Act I, you’ll see four market stall tables and a big wall at the back with the words ‘Open Air Market,’” Wells explains. As the scene changes, the scenery spirals around Cinderella, transforming the world around her. And then there is the carriage, one of Wells’ favorite moments in the production.

There is also a spectacular Fairy Godmother scene — one Wells prefers to leave as a surprise. “You’ll have to come to the ballet to experience it for yourself!” he says.

The Magic Continues

Wells’ love of family ballet goes back to his own childhood. He began dancing at nine and remembers those early years as “magical.” “I knew in my heart that I wanted to do more than dance,” he says. “That’s how family ballets came to be for me. And I love creating them.”

Now, with Cinderella, Wells hopes to share that passion with a new generation.

“With Cinderella and all these family ballets, I’m shedding light on an art form that we all really love, for a particular audience, our youngest audience,” Wells says. “It is my wish that everyone in the audience comes back to the theater to see the main company perform.”

That may be the greatest gift of Cinderella.

A young dancer gets a chance to perform. A child in the audience discovers the world of ballet. A family shares a special day at the theater. And somewhere in that audience, another young person may see a dancer on stage and imagine themselves there someday.

For one magical hour, Cinderella becomes more than a fairy tale. It becomes an opportunity to perform, to dream, to discover, and to create memories together.

And that is where the real magic begins.

Tickets for Atlanta Ballet 2’s Cinderella at the Fox Theatre, October 16–17, 2026, are selling fast! Get your tickets now and experience Cinderella live on stage!

Atlanta Ballet 2 and the children’s cast of Cinderella are courtesy of Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. Inspired by the young dancers on stage? Fall enrollment for Creative Movement and the Student Division is now open. Give your child the opportunity to discover the joy of dance, build confidence, and become part of a community that inspires a lifelong love of ballet. Find out more and enroll today!