A beautiful young princess and the rest of her court wait sleeping under a spell in a castle surrounded by thorns and thickets until a handsome prince arrives to free them.
Moscow Festival Ballet returns to the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto on Wednesday to present the classic 1890 ballet "The Sleeping Beauty." The company performed "Swan Lake" at the center two years ago.
" 'Sleeping Beauty' is one of the jewels in the crown of classical ballet because it is a ballet based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault, which is known and loved the world over," said Artistic Director Sergey Radchenko in an e-mail interview.
"Everyone knows the story and enjoys watching it danced to the beautiful music by Tchaikovsky and the choreography by the great master Marius Petipa. The ballet is grandiose and refined. It uses traditional mime, in a storybook kingdom set in the realm of our imaginations."
Radchenko sticks to the classic staging created 122 years ago. The production features the demanding Rose Adagio, a dance performed by the character Princess Aurora as she is introduced to four suitors. Another highlight is the lavish celebration at the princess' wedding to Prince Charming. The festivities include appearances by several fairy tale characters, including Puss in Boots, Bluebeard, Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. Radchenko says the costumes and sets are colorful, elaborate and traditional.
Radchenko graduated from the Moscow School of Dance and performed with the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet for 25 years. He founded the Moscow Festival Ballet in 1989 to present the best elements of the Bolshoi and Kirov ballet companies and the traditions of Russian classical dance.
"The Sleeping Beauty" cast features 40 highly trained dancers who rehearse every day in Moscow and on tour.
"Our dancers love touring America," Radchenko said. "We find the audiences are very passionate and warm. We hope to see the Grand Canyon on this trip, weather permitting of course. We enjoy your large, beautiful country."WHAT: Moscow Festival Ballet's "Sleeping Beauty"
WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Rogers Theater, Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto
TICKETS: $20-$50
CALL: (209) 338-2100
ONLINE: www.galloarts.org
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