Zeus

Cinderella From The San Francisco Ballet (1985)

Stars:

 Evelyn Cisneros, Jim Henson, Frank Oz

MAGIC effects are scattered throughout ''San Francisco Ballet in 'Cinderella,' '' a ''Dance in America'' holiday special that aired as part of the Great Performances series. A puff of smoke transforms an ancient, ugly hag into a beautiful fairy. The hag disappears up the chimney of a cavernous fireplace in which a fire burns. The fairy flies up and across a night sky. A giant totters about the stage. But the greatest magic of this fairy-tale production, set to the haunting Prokofiev score, is its complete suitability for both adults and children. Directed by Michael Smuin and Emile Ardolino, ''San Francisco Ballet in 'Cinderella' '' is a fine introduction to ballet for the youngest members of the family and offers enough imaginative dancing, well performed, to satisfy the adult balletomane. Toddlers may need a little explanation here and there. But the ballet tells its story clearly, with a minimum of confusing frills. The humor is broad but never veers into slapstick. And Cinderella and her prince are a very attractive and believable pair of teen-aged lovers.