The fairytale about a young woman placed under a spell to sleep for 100 years is about to dance to the local stage.
Canada’s acclaimed Ballet Jörgen waltzes into the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Feb. 9 with Tchaikovsky’s beloved classical ballet Sleeping Beauty.
After bringing both Swan Lake (2013) and Romeo and Juliet (2014) to Vernon, Ballet Jörgen now rounds out Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet trio.
Artistic director and choreographer Bengt Jörgen creates his own unique classical ballet rendition of Aurora and her prince complete with its inherently magical qualities and dazzling choreography. Told in three acts, the ballet benefits from the character development and technical expertise which Ballet Jörgen is known for.
“It is Tchaikovsky’s most remarkable and riveting tale,” said Jörgen. “The underlying theme is the tug between the forces of good (the Lilac Fairy) and evil (Carabosse).”
As noted, the ballet has a whole set of different characters not mentioned in the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty.
The ballet was first performed in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1890, 69 years before the film version introduced audiences to the Mistress of All Evil, Malificent, or good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. Like the film, the ballet’s princess protagonist is also named Aurora. However, her original name from the original fairytale, written by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, was Briar Rose.
In all versions, the beautiful princess is cursed to die upon pricking her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel, but the spell is reversed so that the princess will sleep for 100 years, only to be woken by true love’s kiss.
Jörgen has seamlessly woven iconic French and German versions of the beloved fairytale together to create a new ballet with a refreshing focus on the seasons.
“The original version was created in Russia. It was created to reflect the glorification of the Russian court,” said Jörgen. “Strip away the autocratic Russian setting, but keep the grandeur of the lush French court and the setting becomes the proverbial Garden of Eden.”
Celebrating 25 years of advancing the art and appreciation of ballet in Canada, Ballet Jörgen aims to inspire, innovate, and educate.
After positive audience responses to the company’s past sold-out appearances in Vernon, Ballet Jörgen is presenting 22 talented dancers for its performance of Sleeping Beauty. Local dance students will also have their chance to take on small cameo roles.
Many of Ballet Jörgen’s original ballets have earned national and international recognition, launching Ballet Jörgen to the forefront of the North American dance scene.
The fifth largest ballet company in Canada, Ballet Jörgen is known as Canada’s “local” ballet company, committed to reaching out to more than 50,000 Canadian audience members every year.
“Audiences need to see this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity work,” said Jörgen. “This fairytale is profound, with strong archetypal scenes that have sustained it through the generations... It truly is the gold standard of ballet.”
Part of the Performing Arts Centre’s dance series, Sleeping Beauty takes the stage Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 for adults, $42 for seniors and $40 for students and can be purchased at the Ticket Seller box office, or by calling 250-549-SHOW (7469) or order online at www.ticketseller.ca.