Garland Dance from 'The Sleeping Beauty'

Balanchine was captured by The Sleeping Beauty's spell at an early age. The ballet marked his first appearance onstage, as Cupid, and he always credited the experience with opening his mind to the possibilities inherent in classical dance. Balanchine's memories and strong belief in the importance of the performance tradition for young people is perhaps nowhere better demonstrated than in his recreation of The Sleeping Beauty's garland dance, the "Pas de Guirlandes," that he choreographed  for New York City Ballet's 1981 Tschaikovsky Festival.

In 1991, Peter Martins choreographed a full length Sleeping Beauty, and incorporated Balanchine’s Garland Dance in Act I.

5 minutes