Richmond Ballet presents the classic story ballet The Sleeping Beauty with the Richmond Symphony at Dominion Energy Center for one weekend only, February 9 through 11.
The elegant ballet features time-honored choreography from Marius Petipa with staging by Richmond Ballet Artistic Associate Malcolm Burn. Burn combines the best of the spectacular fairy tale with intriguing stylistic additions and an abbreviated score that make his two-act version of the ballet appropriate for even the youngest of patrons. “The Sleeping Beauty is one of the most beautiful ballets in the entire classical repertory, and the Tchaikovsky score may be his finest,” says Artistic Director Stoner Winslett. The large-scale production includes children from the School of Richmond Ballet and the Richmond Ballet outreach program Minds In Motion in conjunction with the professional company. The ballet features sets and costumes created for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
The Sleeping Beauty, which premiered at Russia’s Maryinsky Theatre in 1890, tells the tale of Princess Aurora whom the evil fairy Carabosse curses on the day of her christening. Carabosse orders that on Aurora’s sixteenth birthday the princess will prick her finger and die. Only the prevailing goodness of the Lilac Fairy saves Aurora from that terrible fate by deflecting the curse and changing it to a sleeping spell that will fall upon the princess for one hundred years, or until a gallant prince awakens her with a kiss.
Featuring Aurora’s famous “Rose Adagio,” a significant accomplishment of technical and artistic excellence for any ballerina, and a cast of delightful characters, including Puss ‘n Boots, Bluebird, and Little Red Riding Hood, this captivating tale of adventure and romance offers a treat for all ages.
For showtimes and tickets, visit etix.com.
