Russian ballet choreographer Marius Petipa’s Sleeping Beauty is one of the classical repertoire’s most famous ballets.
Alberta Ballet brings this fairy tale to Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium audiences from Nov. 1 to 4. However, in an effort to broaden audience appeal, Alberta Ballet choreographer Christopher Anderson has overhauled the ballet, revisiting the characters and their purpose.
“The most prominent feature of the ballet is the setting. We lifted the ballet from the typical European setting to something that resembles the Alberta foothills. Also, we tried to infuse local colour in props and designs. The stone work, the flowers and the gifts for Aurora were all imagined with local considerations,” said Anderson.
Alberta Ballet is the third largest classical ballet company in Canada and a visionary leader in creating original programming representative of the 21st century.
“I wanted this version to be reflective of Alberta … Banff is an astonishing landscape. The scale of that landscape has a majesty that’s on par with the grand traditions of The Sleeping Beauty. So for that reason, it struck me as particularly fitting,” Anderson said.
He notes that no other classical ballet requires the precision and accuracy as Sleeping Beauty does and he praises the dancers for meeting the challenge.
“This ballet showcases the tremendous talent and versatility that exists within Alberta Ballet and I’m proud I was able to have a hand in giving our dancers the kind of repertoire that puts their classical skill at the centre of the work.”
Five performances are slated for Sleeping Beauty. Tickets for the family friendly show range from $47 to $145. Call 780-428-6839 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca.
