Masses of Pittsburghers filled the Benedum Center for Performing Arts Downtown on Saturday night to see Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “Cinderella.” Little girls in sparkly ball gowns and glittering tiaras of their own sat anxiously in their seats, craning their necks to see when the curtain would rise and Cinderella would appear.The little girls weren’t the only ones mesmerized by the performance, however.Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) put on a dazzling performance that brought the childhood fairy tale to life for audience members of all ages.The first act opened with a beautiful set of tall white trees in a forest with glittering stars in the background. Cinderella is soon found in her house with her father (who is alive in this version of the story) and her two stepsisters — who happened to be played by men in this production, with great success.PBT dancers Joseph Parr and Stephen Hadala sparked giggles throughout the crowd — particularly from the little girls in the audience — as they did their very best to be Cinderella’s ugly, catty, attention-seeking stepsisters. Their performances and outlandish costumes resulted in a satisfying comedic touch that kept the ballet light-hearted and interesting the whole way through.Cinderella, performed by principal dancer Alexandra Kochis Saturday evening, drew the eyes of everyone in the Benedum. Whether she was in her plain, old work outfit or the ball gown from her fairy godmother, her technique was flawless and incredible to watch. She floated across the stage with elegance and grace, and there was no doubt that she truly was a princess.The second act took place at the ball once Cinderella had been visited by the fairy godmother and her fairies, and she had her dress transformed into a ball gown and a pumpkin turned into a carriage. The stepsisters made their own haphazard attempts to woo the prince, but to no avail. The court jester, played by soloist Luca Sbrizzi, made his mark with impressive leaps and turns while simultaneously handling the desperate stepsisters.Finally, Cinderella enters the ball in a gown of pink and white, wearing pointe shoes dripping in sparkles. There, she meets and ultimately falls in love with Prince Charming, played by principal dancer Christopher Budzynski.The dances with Cinderella and her prince were the best part of the ballet, but not only because of their beautiful dancing. Dancers Alexandra Kochis and Christopher Budzynski are a married couple in real life, and to see them dance the roles of Cinderella and her prince onstage was truly a special experience. They partnered beautifully and complemented each other while showcasing their own talents as well.All too soon, the clock struck midnight and Cinderella had to escape before the fairy godmother’s magic wore off. All that was found was a sparkling pointe shoe.The third act finished the ballet by following the prince in his search for the girl whose feet fit the sparkling shoe. The prince finds Cinderella after his travels across the world, and the two are married and live happily ever after.The PBT orchestra helped bring this ballet to life. Under the direction of conductor Charles Barker, the musicians played clarinets, violins, violas, cellos, flutes, oboes, trumpets, harps and more. Live music complements a dancer’s performance like nothing else, and the dancers and musicians worked off of each other naturally, without missing a beat.Overall, PBT’s “Cinderella” beautifully portrayed the classic story with a few twists. The production was filled with smiles, glitter and impeccable dancing, and for one night, the audience was whisked away to a world of fairy tales and happy endings.