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The Sleeping Beauty

Music
Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky
Choreography
Peter Martins (after Petipa); The Garland Dance choreographed by Balanchine

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This enchanting full-length is one of NYCB’s grandest spectacles of dance, featuring luxurious sets and costumes, Tschaikovsky’s glorious score, and a cast of fantastical characters.

Balanchine never mounted a production of The Sleeping Beauty.  He did, however, choreograph The Garland Dance for the 1981 Tschaikovsky Festival, and his choreography is incorporated into Peter Martins’ staging of the ballet.  For many years it was Lincoln Kirstein’s dream to mount the ballet at New York City Ballet. Thus, Martins chose Kirstein’s 80th birthday celebration, on May 4, 1987, to announce that the Company would produce The Sleeping Beauty.

It is one of the most elaborate productions presented by the Company, requiring over 100 dancers, including students from the School of American Ballet. Martins' version is streamlined into two acts that combine the drama and beauty of the original choreography with the speed and energy for which New York City Ballet is known.

Act I: 1 hour 12 minutes, Act II: 55 minutes

Anatomy of a Dance

Sara Mearns on The Sleeping Beauty

Sara Mearns compares what it’s like to portray both good and evil through the universal language of ballet pantomime in the same scene of The Sleeping Beauty by breaking down her performances as both the villainous Carabosse and the beloved Lilac Fairy.

Anatomy of a Dance

Tiler Peck on The Sleeping Beauty

Tiler Peck walks us through the Vision Scene of The Sleeping Beauty and the difficulty of appearing dreamlike after the physical demands of Act I.

Tschaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty

Maestro Andrew Litton explores the structure and details of Tschaikovsky's beloved fairy-tale ballet score.

Read Article

Birds of a Feather

As Sebastián Villarini-Vélez and Mia Williams prepared to debut as Bluebird and Princess Florine, respectively, they spoke with veterans KJ Takahashi and Sara Adams.

Read Article

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

Princess Aurora’s christening, replete with fairies, in Act I of Peter Martins' The Sleeping Beauty.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

Gabriella Domini demonstrating poise and sensitivity as the Fairy of Tenderness.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

Mia Williams, carried by the sprightly energy of Tschaikovksy's score, gives a fleet-footed performance as the Fairy of Eloquence.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

A late and unwelcome guest at Aurora's sixteenth birthday: Carabosse, danced by Brittany Pollack casts the spell that sets the story in motion.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

In her debut performance, Principal Dancer Emma Von Enck brought a vivacious touch to Princess Aurora, navigating this coda with flair and finesse.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

Emanating ebullience and nobility as Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré, Principal Dancers Indiana Woodward and Chun Wai Chan let love lead the way.

© 2017 Paul Kolnik

© 2017 Paul Kolnik

©2013 Paul Kolnik

© 2017 Paul Kolnik

© 2017 Paul Kolnik

© 2017 Paul Kolnik

© 2013 Paul Kolnik

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