Colorado Ballet opens season with a classic

Colorado Ballet will open its 2018-19 Season with the timeless classical ballet Sleeping Beauty. Running October 5–14 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, it will feature choreography by Marius Petipa and music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.

“We are very excited to open our season with Sleeping Beauty,” said Colorado Ballet Artistic Director Gil Boggs. “This ballet truly showcases the purity of classicism. The music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa give audiences the opportunity to see, hear and experience one of the most perfectly classical forms of ballet that can be presented.”

“The role of Princess Aurora is one of the most challenging roles a ballerina can dance. This along with the lavish sets, costumes and good-versus-evil story will certainly transport you to a land of enchantment,” Boggs explained.

Sleeping Beauty premiered in 1890 and remains one of the most performed and beloved ballets today. A collaboration between legendary choreographer Marius Petipa and composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sleeping Beauty is based on Charles Perrault’s La Belle au bois dormant and was first performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.

This classic fairy-tale tells the story of the beautiful princess Aurora, who falls under the spell of a wicked fairy on her 16th birthday. Under the curse of this spell, the princess and entire village fall into 100 years of sleep. Only the kiss of true love can awaken the princess and break the spell. With the help of the Lilac Fairy, Prince Desirée must find his way to the sleeping princess in order to save his newfound love. Joy and a celebratory wedding ensue after the fateful kiss.

Tickets range from $30 to $155. Visit www.coloradoballet.org or call Patron Services at 303-837-8888 ext. 2 to purchase tickets.

Photo: Colorado Ballet’s Dana Benton for Sleeping Beauty. Photo by Allen Birnbach.