The Magic of Sleeping Beauty

We are so excited about our performance of The Sleeping Beauty coming up in just a few weeks! While most of you are familiar with this story as “another Disney princess movie,” the ballet Sleeping Beauty actually has a much richer and longer history! Read below to see why this ballet is considered the *epitome* of classical ballets!

The Magic of Sleeping Beauty: A Ballet with Royal Roots

One of the most beloved classical ballets performed is The Sleeping Beauty—a masterpiece that has dazzled audiences for more than a century. But did you know this iconic ballet is rooted in royal history, fairy tale magic, and some of the most challenging choreography in the classical repertoire?

Let’s take a step back in time and explore the fascinating history and significance of Sleeping Beauty in the world of ballet.

A Tale as Old as Time… with Pointe Shoes

The story of Sleeping Beauty comes from a French fairy tale, La Belle au Bois Dormant (“The Beauty Sleeping in the Wood”), written by Charles Perrault in the late 1600s. The version most people know today—a princess cursed to sleep for 100 years until awakened by true love’s kiss—has inspired books, films, and of course, ballets.

In 1890, this timeless tale was brought to life as a ballet on the grand stage of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, in what would become one of the greatest ballets of all time. The ballet was a collaboration between two legends: composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky and choreographer Marius Petipa. It was their dream to blend French fairy-tale elegance with Russian grandeur—and they succeeded spectacularly.

The original cast of the first Sleeping Beauty in 1890.

The Choreography: A Dancer’s Dream (and Challenge)

Our Senior Company dancers will be performing much of the actual original professional choreography performed by professional ballerinas all over the world for over 100 years! They have worked tirelessly for months to perfect the challenging and beautiful choreography. What an experience for our dancers to perform the same steps danced by the likes of famous star ballerinas like Margot Fonteyn, Anna Pavlova, Svetlana Zakharova, Maria Tallchief and Misty Copeland!

NGSB Senior Company dancer Lexi in rehearsal for her role as Princess Aurora

Milwaukee Ballet Theater professional dancers in The Sleeping Beauty

NGSB Senior Company dancer Madeline (with guest dancer Charles) in rehearsal for Sleeping Beauty

Pacific Northwest Ballet professional dancers performing Sleeping Beauty, photo by A. Sterling

Marius Petipa created the original choreography, and it remains a gold standard of classical ballet. The famous role of Princess Aurora is considered a rite of passage for ballerinas worldwide. It’s not just technically demanding; it requires nerves of steel and absolute control.

But Sleeping Beauty isn’t just about Aurora. The ballet is filled with colorful characters, including fairies, royal court members, and even cameo appearances by other fairy-tale characters like Puss in Boots and Little Red Riding Hood during the wedding scene towards the end of the ballet.

The Music: Tchaikovsky’s Royal Score

If the music of Sleeping Beauty sounds familiar, that’s because it’s so good, it’s been used in everything from commercials to figure skating routines to movies. The music was composed for the ballet MUCH before it was used by Disney for the animated version in 1959! Tchaikovsky’s score is rich, romantic, and incredibly detailed—it even assigns unique musical themes (called leitmotifs) to characters like the Lilac Fairy and the villainous Carabosse. Make sure to listen for these themes every time your favorite characters appear on stage!

Who are the main characters?

The ballet’s main roles differ slightly from the commonly-known Disney characters. Here’s a rundown of who you’ll expect to see on stage:

• Princess Aurora (the Princess who pricks her finger and falls asleep for 100 years)

• Carabosse (the evil fairy who is upset she wasn’t invited to the Princess’s christening)

• The Lilac Fairy (the most powerful fairy who is able to alter Carabosse’s evil spell)

• Princess Désiré (the Prince who discovers the sleeping castle and breaks the spell)

• The King and Queen

• The Fairies

• Princess Aurora’s Friends

• Fairy Tale Characters: (who make a cameo appearance in The Wedding Scene)

Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf

Bluebird (a.k.a. Pricess Florina)

Puss in Boots and The White Cat

Crown Jewels

Hansel & Gretel and the Witch

Why It Still Matters Today

More than 130 years after its premiere, The Sleeping Beauty remains a cornerstone of classical ballet. It teaches dancers discipline, musicality, and storytelling. It gives audiences a glimpse into a magical world where good triumphs over evil—and where beauty, elegance, and grace reign supreme.

At North Georgia School of Ballet, when our dancers perform Sleeping Beauty, they’re not just learning steps. They’re stepping into dance history. They’re honoring the artistry of generations past while inspiring the audiences of tomorrow.

So next time you hear that iconic waltz or see a dancer balance en pointe with the poise of Princess Aurora, remember—Sleeping Beauty is more than a fairy tale. It’s a living, breathing work of art.

Interested in seeing NGSB in The Sleeping Beauty live on stage? Tickets to our performances are available on our website www.ngaschoolfballet.com

Let the magic begin…