The Sleeping Beauty begins with the christening of Princess Aurora. Fairies are invited to bestow gifts on the young princess, except for the Fairy Carabosse who is forgotten. She is outraged and announces the princess will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy softens Carabosse’s curse, so Aurora will not die but shall sleep for 100 years until awakened by a prince’s kiss. A century later, Prince Desire is led to the castle by the Lilac Fairy where he kisses Princess Aurora and breaks the spell. The ballet concludes with a grand wedding celebration attended by fairytale characters.

A spectacular achievement of classical choreography, The Sleeping Beauty features technically demanding footwork and stunning variations. Hear one of Tchaikovsky’s greatest compositions performed live by the Boston Ballet Orchestra and enter a dreamland full of storybook magic and adventure.

“Indeed, the tutus, petticoats, vests, dresses, jackets, and other period pieces are older than most of the dancers wearing them. Created in London in the 1970s by prominent theater designer David Walker, the costumes have appeared in hundreds of shows over the years. Even after decades of use, they appear brand new, thanks to the almost magical efforts of stitchers in the Boston Ballet costume shop.”
–Boston Magazine

The Sleeping Beauty premiered January 15, 1890 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was brought to the West in 1918 by Nicolai Sergeyev, staged for the first time in 1921 there. After World War II, The Sleeping Beauty reopened the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden on February 20, 1946.

Ninette de Valois revived The Sleeping Beauty in 1977, which entailed designs for a new set and costumes. It was this that was purchased by Boston Ballet in 1992. The show premiered here in 2005, and was subsequently performed in 2009, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2023.

“Working in Russia in the last four decades of the 19th century, Petipa helped to turn Romantic ballet into what we now recognize as classical ballet.”
–The New York Times

Originally from Marseilles, France, Petipa left for Russia in 1847. He had signed a one-year contract with the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatre, but remained there for the rest of his life. Petipa produced more than 60 full-length ballets, innumerable shorter works, and is considered to have laid the foundation for the entire school of Russian ballet. He is considered one of the greatest choreographers of all time.