Into the Woods by Academy of Dance and Arts is based on the classic Steven Sondheim musical, reinvented for dance. The story intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. The main characters are taken from “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “Rapunzel”, “Cinderella”, and several others. The plot is tied together by a story involving a baker and his wife, their interaction with a witch who has placed a curse on them, a quest, and encounters with other storybook characters during their journey.
Stripping away the musical’s lyrics and replacing them with movement, this production leans fully into the emotional and physical storytelling of dance. Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, and Rapunzel all find their paths converging in the forest, drawn together by a shared sense of longing and the promise that wishes, if earnestly pursued, might just come true.
The characters journey into the forest to break the Witch’s powerful curse. Their task is simple, at least on paper: retrieve four enchanted objects—a golden slipper, hair as bright as corn, a crimson cape, and a pure white cow. But as anyone familiar with fairy tales knows, nothing is ever that straightforward. In this ballet adaptation, each object becomes a motif, woven into the choreography and physical language of the dancers, building a world where gesture replaces dialogue and emotion is carried through the body.
Through expressive movement and captivating choreography, this ballet brings the Grimm Brothers’ stories together in a magical quest filled with hope, longing, and unexpected consequences. As wishes are granted and paths collide, the dancers reveal that even the most beautiful dreams can come with a cost and that true happiness is more complex than it seems.
The Academy of Dance & Arts is a school that has steadily built a reputation in Nairobi for rigorous training and ambitious productions. Known for nurturing young dancers across ballet, contemporary, and musical theatre, the Academy has become an incubator for emerging performance talent in the city. Their annual showcases often blend technical precision with a willingness to experiment. Into the Woods, with its layered storytelling and tonal shifts, offers rich ground for exactly that.
While the ballet is based on a fairy tale story, knowing the full narrative is not necessary, making this a performance that is enjoyable for the whole family. The tension between innocence, experience, and consequence, plays out physically: with sharp movements giving way to softer, more reflective passages. The forest itself becomes a character, at once enchanting and foreboding, through ensemble work that shifts and reshapes the stage space.
📅 SHOW DATES & TIMES
* Saturday 23rd May – 6:00pm
* Sunday 24th May – 2:00pm & 5:00pm
📍 Venue: Kenyan National Theatre
🎟️ TICKETS
Early Bird:
* Adults – KSh 3,000
* Children (under 12) – KSh 1,500
At the Door:
* Adults – KSh 3,500
* Children – KSh 2,000
💳 M-Pesa Payment
Paybill: 4060979
Account No: Day of Show / Tickets
Bring the kids, bring the family, and step into the magic of the woods!
