Universal Ballet to Stage "Sleeping Beauty" for the First Time in Four Years
October 2-4 at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater
The Universal Ballet will perform the classic ballet "Sleeping Beauty" at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater from October 2 to 4. This marks the first production of "Sleeping Beauty" in four years since 2022.
Alongside "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker," "Sleeping Beauty" is regarded as one of Tchaikovsky's three grand ballets. The work is based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault and combines Tchaikovsky's music with choreography by Marius Petipa. It premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1890.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary in 1994, the Universal Ballet staged the full-length Korean premiere of this work. The creative team included Artistic Director Oleg Vinogradov, director Natalia Spitsyna, stage designer Simon Pastukh, and costume designer Galina Solovieva, all of whom have backgrounds in the Mariinsky Ballet.
The original production is a grand piece lasting four hours, but the Universal Ballet has condensed it to two hours and thirty-five minutes while preserving the storyline. Highlights of the performance include the "Rose Adagio," where Princess Aurora maintains balance by taking turns partnering four princes; the curse scene by the evil fairy Carabosse; and the "Grand Pas de Deux" at the royal wedding of Aurora and Prince Désiré. Other characters from Perrault's fairy tales also appear, such as the Bluebird and Princess Florine, Puss in Boots and the White Cat, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf.
In this production, Seo Hyewon and Jeon Yeo-jin will both make their debuts as Princess Aurora, while Lee Seung-min will appear for the first time as Prince Désiré. Principal dancer Lee Hyunjun will alternate between the roles of Prince Désiré and Carabosse, showcasing two contrasting characters.
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Moon Hoon-sook, Director of the Universal Ballet, commented, "'Sleeping Beauty' represents the pinnacle of Russian Imperial Ballet and is a masterpiece that displays the elegance, grandeur, and intricate artistry of classical ballet. It will be a harmonious blend of experienced veterans in leading roles and passionate new principal dancers."
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