Ballet
The Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty is grand classical ballet at its most royal and glittering. It has a christening, a wicked fairy, a hundred year nap, and a happily ever after full of fairy tale guests. Many dancers see the lead role as a true test of classical polish.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Choreographer
- Marius Petipa
- Premiere
- 1890, Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
- Structure
- Prologue and three acts
- Running time
- About 3 hours with intervals
The story
At Princess Aurora's christening, the fairies bring gifts, but the uninvited fairy Carabosse curses the baby to die from a pricked finger. The kind Lilac Fairy softens the curse so that Aurora will only fall asleep instead. On her sixteenth birthday Aurora pricks her finger and the whole kingdom sleeps for a hundred years. A prince finally finds her, wakes her with a kiss, and the ballet ends with a wedding celebration filled with familiar fairy tale characters.
What The Sleeping Beauty is famous for
- the Rose Adagio
- the Lilac Fairy
- the fairy tale wedding guests
- its royal classical style
Companies that perform The Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty is in the repertoire of companies including New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, The Australian Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rose Adagio?
It is a famous balancing sequence in which Aurora is partnered by four suitors in turn. It demands incredible control and is one of the most nerve testing moments for a ballerina.
Which fairy tale characters appear?
The final wedding scene often features guests like Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Bluebird, drawn from other classic fairy tales.
Why is it so long?
It is a large scale classical ballet with a prologue and three acts, full of processions, fairy variations, and grand celebrations, so most productions run around three hours.
Who composed The Sleeping Beauty?
The Sleeping Beauty was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
How long is The Sleeping Beauty?
The Sleeping Beauty runs about 3 hours with intervals.