The Twelve Dancing Princesses

One of my favorite faery tales has always been, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." It's so very unique and fascinating. And there are little details that follow along with the story that must always be there; that make it authentic. I wonder why those details were added and when? How far back were they decided, and what is their significance? Like the forest of magic trees. Usually they're gold and silver, but some people fudge it and make them crystal. And then there's the dark lake that the girls must sail across. And best of all, there's the cloak of invisibility. The magical cloak is the way that the person in the story is able to follow the princesses and find out where they go at night to dance their shoes to tatters.

Anyway, I love this tale. And recently I've been thinking about it. Collecting details and pieces of things that bring the story to life. So I thought I'd just share bits of my bizarre collection.

Shoes:

Songs that fit:
Hayley Westenra, "Dark Waltz"

Paolo Nutini, "New Shoes"

Josh Groban, "So She Dances"

Scissor Sisters, "Don't feel like Dancing"

Book Variations (for some reason they always give these books corny titles, but they're actually pretty good reading):

Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier

"Wildwood Dancing is set in early 1500s Transylvania, and tells the story of five young sisters from the ages of five to seventeen, in the first person from the point of view of Jenica (called 'Jena'), the second sister. This time period would precede the writing of Bram Stoker's Dracula, and therefore Marillier's Night People would not be referred to as vampires." - Wikipedia


Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George

"Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls." -book's description



Illustrations of the Story (click to enlarge):

by: Himmapaan

by: K. Y. Craft (she actually illustrated a whole books for this story)

both by: Kay Nielsen
















by: Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini












by: ?

Characters, characters...

So I can't help it. I've been rereading the "Queen's Thief" series by Megan Whalen Turner (my all time favorite fiction books. in case you haven't picked up on that yet.) I've been rereading the books I own, my own personal library, and these just had to be read eventually. I try to limit my constant reading of them because I always get mildly obsessed each time I enter their pages. Is is wholey unhealthy to day dream about meeting your favorite characters? I mean, honestly. They could be real people, they're so well written. Could I love them into existence? Do you think that would work? Well, since that hasn't happened yet I've instead gone and searched through the IMDB database for actors and actresses that I think might just play the roles well if it is ever made into a film. And as much as the idea thrills me, I hate it too, because they'd have to do if perfectly or it wouldn't work. At all. Zero. Zip. Na-da. The end.

Ok. so here it goes.

Eugenides:




Skandar Keynes (p.s. I love the name Skandar btw. I think I might name one of my sons Skandar). So this actor is only 19 right now, but give him a year or two and he'll be perfect. He has that even-younger-than-he-is look, which is ideal for Eugenides. He's got the dark hair, the sharply intelligent eyes that speak everything, the wiry build, the intense looks... yes. I think he just might do. actor info and images

Sophos:

Max Thieriot. He has a very young look about him but he's actually one older than most of the other actors/actresses I've listed on this post. This gives him both the ability to have a seemingly childish first impression, and a believably mature second impression. Ideal for an actor of Sophos' character. I think he's just become my new, favorite actor for the part. As i said, ideal. actor info and images

or



Max Pirkis. You probably know him as the little one armed shipman on Master and Commander. Well, he isn't so young anymore either. Blonde hair, innocent face, kind eyes. Yeah. He'll work too.
actor info and images



or

Alexander Ludwig. I like this guy because he has both the kind/innocentness as well as the "scholar/poet" softness to his face. I think he has an perfect Sophos demeanor and he's fairly young like these other actors/actresses.
actor info and images


Costis:



Josh Hutcherson. He looks more military brawn and strongly built. Yet he has an open and honest face. And he's also young, so he'll fit right in. You know him from The Bridge to Tarabithia. Grown up a bit, hasn't he.
actor info and images



Irene (Attolia):

Spencer Locke. I admit, I have not seen this actress act, that I know of, so this is isn't a really strong suggestion. But she does look a bit like how I see Irene looking. Of course this suggestion refers to her appearance when she's a brunette, as I'm pretty positive she naturally is. She is stunning, with piercing eyes, delicate features, but a firm set jaw and sharp mouth. She's about the same age as the other actors here, so, again, in a couple years she'd be perfect.
actress info and images


Hel(Eddis):

Bonnie Wright. I've had difficulty coming up with an actress for this part. Honestly, I'm not really sure who could do it. I think that Bonnie's personality would be perfect for the part (witty, strong, commanding), and she has a good face for it too. But Eddis is suppose to have short, brunette hair, and curls. But that, honestly, could be dealt with. You might think Bonnie looks young (she is in this pic. she's older now), but she's the same age as most of these other actors I've listed. I think her youthful appearance is actually a good effect, because it would give more credit to the way the people in Sounis and Attolia look at Eddis and get upset because they don't know how someone less unaggressive than themselves, and so "young" could rule so well. actress info and images

Sounis (Sophos' uncle):



Russell Crowe. Middle aged. Heavy built. Military type. Powerful presence. I think he'd work well. actor info and images





The Magus:



Jeremy Irons. Lovely melodic voice, quick witted, wonderful actor, can sound knowledgeable, old enough to be "older" but not "old". I think he'd make a marvelous Magus. Maybe grow his beard out a bit. actor info and images