OKC Ballet performs timeless classic

Oklahoma City Ballet will perform Sleeping Beauty February 17- 19 at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City. This classic good versus evil tale is based on the story by Charles Perrault, La Belle au bois dormant. 

Debuting in 1890 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Sleeping Beauty is known as one of the most demanding and hardest ballets to perform. The original choreography by Marius Petipa will be mixed with some restaging by Artistic Director Robert Mills, but will remain mostly true to original staging.

The lead role of Princess Aurora is one of the most difficult roles in repertoires today. The role will be split, with principal dancer Miki Kawamura and soloist DaYoung Jung sharing the load.

“The most intimidating part is that this role is so definitive of classical ballet. There’s no hiding, no cheating; you have to get it exactly right,” said Kawamura. “It was definitely on my bucket list. I never thought I was the Aurora type, growing up.” This will be her first time to dance the role of Aurora.

This visually stunning ballet tells the story of Princess Aurora, cursed by the evil Carabosse to die on her 16th birthday, when she will prick her finger on a spindle. The spell is partially undone by the good fairy Lilac, when she modifies the spell as much as she is able, so that the Princess will not die, but fall asleep for 100 years.

The spell will then be broken by the kiss of a Prince. The Lilac Fairy chooses Prince Désiré to awaken Aurora and leads him to her. Despite the evil Carabosse’s attempts to foil the Prince, he arrives at the castle and awakens the Princess.

This will be the first time in more than 15 years that this ballet has been performed by this company. The Oklahoma City Philharmonic will perform Pyotr Tchaikovky’s iconic score live at all performances.

This is significant because it is the third and final ballet composed by Tchaikovsky (the other two are The Nutcracker and Swan Lake) and makes the first time that all three have been in the repertoire at one time. This large cast will use the entire company and several children from The Dance Center of Oklahoma City Ballet. These students auditioned in September for roles in The Sleeping Beauty. 

The family-friendly classical ballet in three acts will run in approximately 2 ½ hours.

For more information, visit www.okcballet.com, or call (405) 848-TOES (8637). Tickets are now on sale.

Copyright 2017 The Gayly – January 28, 2017 @ 7:05 a.m.