“Cinderella” at Telluride’s Palm Theatre October 18

That SWOOSH you hear is the sound of some gnarly skier passing you, hair flying, on one of Telluride's double black diamond bump runs. The tap tap tapping of her keyboard is that same woman running a business. She is also somebody's Princess.

When you tuck in your daughter at night, do you – or did you – tell her fairy tales about handsome Prince Charming riding in on a big white horse to sweep her away to a distant castle, where he will wed her and worship her for all eternity? The "Cinderella Syndrome" occurs when well-meaning parents set up unrealistic expectations for their precious little girls, high hopes which became unrealistic in the post-"Mad Men" era of feminism. That's when glass ceilings replaced glass slippers – or at least cause them to be tossed into a box and stuck at the back of a closet. Gone but not forgotten.

Forget the fact women appear to be less happy today than ever ("Blue Is the New Black," Maureen Dowd, The New York Times, September 20) and just sit back, relax and enjoy. On Sunday, October 18, 3 p.m., the State Street Ballet brings its production of "Cinderella" to Telluride's Michael D. Palm Theatre.

"Cinderella" is one of the best-known fairy tales not just in our culture, but around the globe, with more than 3,000 variations as far afield as China and Africa. State Street, however, follows the version most Americans know best, the one that first appeared in Charles Perrault's "Tales of Mother Goose, " published in 1697.

In broad strokes, the plot follows Cinderella from the time her mother dies and her father remarries an evil stepmother, who forces the bodacious young thing to perform menial tasks for her and her two mirror -challenged daughters. A fairy godmother and magical animals conspire to get Cindy out of the house to a ball, where she meets Prince Charming. He is gobsmacked by her beauty and sweetness. They marry and live happily ever after. The story is the ultimate example of "If the shoe fits…"

For a delightful few hours, forget juggling job, dishes and kids' schedules and enjoy the magical thinking. (Afterwards remind your daughter, it was just a fairy tale. Her future ride is more likely to be a pumpkin than a coach.)

The Palm's production of State Street's "Cinderella" includes about 30 talented extras from the Telluride region playing owls, mice, fairy attendants, fireflies, birds and a page, all coached for their roles by Valerie Madonia and Amanda Sturdevandt of the Telluride Dance Academy.

Note: State Street is offering a Master Class, also Sunday, 12 – 1 p.m. on the Palm stage. Participants must be 12 or older with previous ballet experience. To register call 970-369-5675