BWW Reviews: LA Ballet Premieres a Spectacular THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY ballet with glorious music by Tchaikovsky premiered in Moscow in 1890. With original choreography by Marius Petipa, it is considered one of the greatest story ballets of all time and the epitome of classical ballet. The story represents much more than just the fairy tale, showing us that even when poisoned by the forces of evil, the power of love can surmount any roadblock and triumph.

Los Angeles Ballet Co-Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary have adapted the ballet with their own original choreography, based after Petipa. Their World Premiere LA Ballet presentation proved to be a spectacular work of artistic excellence thanks to the remarkable LA Ballet dancers.

Following in Petipa's footsteps, the ballet is set in the regal style of Louis XIV and incorporates many 18th century court dances. With incredibly intricate costumes and mood-inducing scenery by the Boston Ballet, this production is not only magical but truly awe-inspiring thanks to the entire company led by principal dancers Allyssa Bross as Aurora, Kenta Shimizu as her Prince, and Allynne Noelle as the Lilac Fairy who brings the two characters together, usurping the evil fairy Carabosse (Coleen Neary).

The Prologue introduces us to baby Aurora at her royal christening. Her very royal parents King Florestan XXIV (Zheng Hau Li) and his Queen (Katherine Cowgill) have invited six fairies to the ceremony to bestow girls on their child, offering her the virtues of purity (Bianca Bulle), joy (Julia Cinquemani), generosity (Madison McDonough), eloquence (Chloè Sherman), temperament (Kate Hightree), and wisdom (Allynne Noelle). These six lovely ladies dressed in pastels, each brilliantly express their gift through dance. Unfortunately the ceremony is interrupted by a non-invited guest, the evil fairy Carabosse (Colleen Neary) who casts a spell on Aurora that she will prick her finger on a spindle on her 16th birthday and die. Noelle's Lilac Fairy steps in and commutes the spell to 100 years of sleep, not death, at the end of which she will be awakened by the kiss of a handsome prince.

Act I takes use to Princess Aurora's sixteenth birthday during which a lvely ensemble Garland Dance is performed, as well as a spectacular courtship dance performed by Aurora and the four leaping princes (Christopher Revels, Dustin True, Erik Thordal-Christensen, Alexander Casillo) trying to steal her heart. At one point, Allyssa Bross slowly spins on one toe as the princes take turns being her escort. As their hands switch, Bross balances on one toe on her own, inspiring gasps and rounds of applause from the audience. Then a cloaked Carabosse arrives, delivering a gift - a spindle - on which Aurora pricks her finger and struggles to stay awake before falling into a deep sleep. The Lilac Fairy reminds the court she will sleep 100 years and then casts the spell of slumber over the entire kingdom, which will be broken when Aurora awakens.

Act II takes place 100 years later as the Prince, his Huntsmen and Huntswomen venture into the woods. To raise his spirits, a game of "blind man's bluff" and a series of entertaining dances take place. But the Prince is still unhappy and asks his followers to leave, at which point Kenta Shimizu excites the audience with his high-jumping leaps and precision spins during his first solo number. He is a marvel to watch, making himself seem weightless with his fantastic and super athletic movements. When the Lilac Fairy arrives, she whisks him off to wake Aurora, travelling across the stage on a magical sailboat skimming the fog-enshrouded waters - a jaw-dropping effect! After arriving at the castle, the Prince bestows Aurora with a kiss, awakening her and the entire court. He proposes marriage and Aurora happily accepts, and the couple dances their way through joy and happiness.

Act III takes us to the wedding, during which Allyssa Bross and Kenta Shimizu perform a spectacular grand pas de deux during which the audience was entranced by their magical, romantic aura and his ability to create the illusion of Aurora being as light as air during many spectacular lifts. Soon the entire kingdom joins in, featuring perfectly in sync dancing by the three Jewels (Bianca Buffe, Kare Highstrete, Ashley Millar), with duets by the Bluebird (guest artist Luke Schaufuss and Julia Cinquemani), the comic White Cat and Puss 'n Boots (Alyssa Harrington and Robert Mulvey), and Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf (Chelsea Paige Johnson and Christopher Revels). The wedding ends with a spectacular full ensemble dance sharing the joy of true love.

There were many children and teens in the audience who were just as taken with the ballet as everyone else. I hope you will create a family day at the ballet that will create a lifelong memory for all of you!

Los Angeles Ballet presents the World premiere of THE SLEEPING BEAUTY featuring original choreography by Christensen/Neary at the following locations:

Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center Sat, Feb. 21, 7:30 pm

Valley Performing Arts Center Sat, Feb. 28, 7:30 pm

Alex Theatre Sat, Mar. 21, 7:30 pm

Royce Hall, UCLA Sat, Mar. 28, 7:30 pm and Sun, Mar. 29, 2:00 pm

To purchase tickets, call Los Angeles Ballet's Box Office at 310.998.7782

Photo credits:
Headshots by Reed Hutchinson

The Sleeping Beauty images:
Photo: Reed Hutchinson
Photocomposition: Catherine Kanner

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