Dancing their dreams

Young Chang

Two principal cast members for next week’s American Ballet Theatre

production of “Cinderella” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center

know what it’s like to be the stars of real-life fairy tales.

For Marcelo Gomes and Ashley Tuttle, being in the ABT -- the royal

kingdom of the ballet world -- is like becoming a prince or princess.

There are five pairs of principal dancers doing the roles of

Cinderella and Prince Charming in Orange County.

Gomes, who will play the prince role on opening night, joined ABT

three years ago and played Romeo in last season’s production of “Romeo

and Juliet.” It was the 21-year-old’s first stint as the star of a

full-length ballet. Now, he awaits his most majestic role.

Tuttle, 29, joined ABT when she was 16 years old. She spent time at

dance schools away from home and faced the pressures of being a teenager

while pursuing her dance dreams. Like Cinderella, she underwent a

transformation. Now she will play the storybook princess for the show’s

second night.

“We all have dreams,” Tuttle said. “Cinderella had dreams. A lot of my

dreams have come true through dancing.”

The show will cap the Center’s 2000 Classic Dance Series with

performances Dec. 19 through 23. The Pacific Symphony Orchestra will

perform Sergei Prokofiev’s score with the American Ballet Theatre, which

has appeared at the venue 12 times previously.

Ben Stevenson, with whom Tuttle studied earlier in her career,

choreographed the work.

“I’m very honored to be part of the group,” Tuttle said.

She loves dancing the role of Cinderella because she gets to portray a

gamut of emotions and undergo changes, including those of the costume

variety.

She will wear a grayish-brown dress in the beginning, with a

handkerchief wrapped around her head. In the end, she will wear a pink

tutu and a crown with sparkles on it.

“You get picked on, but then you get to be the princess,” Tuttle said.

Gomes, who started dancing when he was 5, credits relatives for his

career. The family attended ballets and an uncle, who was a big arts fan,

influenced Gomes.

Having a principal role has meant more than just recognition to Gomes,

it has meant delving into the mind of the character he plays.

“When you’re young, you always like to imagine these things, but when

it actually happens on stage, it’s incredible,” he said.

Neither performer plans to hang up the dancing shoes any timesoon.

Both are looking for more experience, and Orange County is a nice place

to get it, said Tuttle, who enjoys performing at the Center.

“Orange County really likes the American Ballet Theatre a lot,” she

said. “It’s like a second home for us.”

FYI

WHAT: American Ballet Theatre’s production of “Cinderella”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Dec. 23, with 2 p.m. matinees Dec. 22-23

WHERE: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

COST: $12-$70.

CALL: (714) 740-7878