From the young to the old, Sleeping Beauty is a tale that has captivated audiences for ages. While perhaps most well-known by the animated version, years before Disney’s adaptation, the story was represented in a beautiful ballet.
Based on a Brothers Grimm story, Sleeping Beauty was first performed as a ballet in 1890 in St. Petersburg, with music composed by Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa, famous for The Nutcracker, Don Quixote and Cinderella. Since then, the story has been told— in three acts and a prologue, performed around the world with various changes in choreography and music— while the storyline has remained the same.
The King and Queen hold a grand christening ceremony for their first child, Princess Aurora. At the celebration, six fairies bestow gifts upon the princess that each represent a virtue. Upon hearing of the celebration while receiving no invitation, Carabosse, an evil fairy, curses the baby so that when the child turns 16, she will prick her finger on a spindle and die. However, the Lilac Fairy alters the curse to save Aurora from death, and puts her—and the kingdom—to sleep. After 100 years, Prince Desire finds the princess and everyone is awakened.
The Russian National Ballet Theatre began in the 1980s as a nationalist effort, incorporating new dance developments, to continue the classic tradition of The Russian Ballet. The Company focuses on developing new talent through performances of classic Russian ballets, particularly the works of Petipa.
Radchenko Sergey, artistic director of The Russian National Ballet, states that one of the main goals for Sleeping Beauty is to preserve the cultural and historical values of the production. “The key to the longevity of this ballet is not only the brilliant music of Tchaikovsky, but also the close creative collaboration with choreographer Petipa over the creation of this joint masterpiece. There is a complete harmony of music and dance,” he remarked.
A show like this does not often come to Toledo, so be sure to enjoy a traditional Russian ballet while you can. “With modern aggression and the rushing world, there just isn’t enough of the old romance. Fly away into the world of naïve tales. Words are all lies, and the sound of music and the music of the body . . . the truth,” Sergey said.
Sleeping Beauty is one night only, 7:30pm, Thursday, January 8 at the Valentine Theatre,
410 Adams St. Tickets at valentinetheatre.com
or via the Box Office, 419-242-2787.
