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This past weekend we had the privilege of seeing the premier of the American Ballet Theatre’s production of  The Sleeping Beauty at Segerstom Center for the Arts. The experience was magical! The stage sets made you feel like you really were in a land far far away. There was no detail overlooked – even them scrims were impressively crafted and beautiful.

The costumes were outstanding, both up close and from afar. The rhine stones sparkled with every movement of the dancer, and the colors were classic and vibrant. From Princess Aurora herself, to the Diamond Fairy, the White Cat, Cinderella, and Red Riding Hood, all of the fairy tale characters came to life on the stage. The comedically over-sized features of the Ogre and Ogress were a pleasant surprise too.

Obviously the dancing was world class – it is ABT after all! Principals, soloists, core, and community members all complimented each other and supported each other on the stage. Princess Aurora of course stole the show with her perfect balance in attitude and floating petite allegro. The choreography was as close to the original as possible. They literally used notes from Petipa himself to get it just right. You didn’t see the bravado of other contemporary ballets, with high legs and sweeping grande allegro. It was traditional, and it was lovely.

Overall The Sleeping Beauty was a wonderful production of the highest quality. It’s definitely a must-see for ballet lovers everywhere!