Message from Alberta Ballet

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON | Artistic Director

A crown jewel in ballet repertoire, The Sleeping Beauty is a brilliant demonstration of classical ballet and artful storytelling.

I was honoured to have the opportunity to create this signature ballet to share with Alberta audiences in 2018. And I’m thrilled to bring it back to the stage in 2023. 

The Sleeping Beauty is traditionally a much longer ballet (four hours in performance when Petipa and Tchaikovsky premiered it in 1890). We’ve condensed it to two acts, with emphasis on preserving the signature moments. The Sleeping Beauty canon includes masterful productions from the 1800s, the 1930s and the 1950s, and those traditions have offered a rich history to work with. 

And while we’ve been thoughtful reflecting on the traditions in this ballet’s rich history, I also wanted to give it something that was uniquely Albertan, and it was clear that there was a wonderful opportunity to set the fairy kingdom in Alberta’s foothills. We infused local colour in the props and designs. The stone, flowers and the gifts from the fairies were all imagined with local considerations. 

A ballet of this scale on the tremendous Jubilee stage is a significant undertaking, and I’d like to extend my deepest thanks to the magnificent Alberta Ballet dancers, the guest artists from Shumka, the artistic team and everyone working behind-the-scenes. 

And finally, to all of you joining us, thank you for supporting the performing arts in Alberta. We are thrilled to see so many full houses for this production and are grateful to have your patronage! 

The visuals for this performance have a contemporary aesthetic inspired by Alberta's outdoors.

The challenge was to make something that wouldn't take attention away from the dancers but rather support their performance, the costume design and the story.

Curtis Sorenson on the set designs

Synopsis

Inspired by Tchaikovsky’s noble score, Christopher Anderson’s grand interpretation
of this oft-shared fairy tale will transport all to the kingdom that slept 100 years.

Prologue: Celebrating a Princess

In a magical Fairy Kingdom, the Princess Aurora is born, and the King and Queen joyfully invite all the fairies in the land to celebrate their treasured daughter. But in the midst of the excitement, the royal family missed one name on their guest list: the fairy Carabosse. 

Furious, Carabosse crafts a plan for revenge. On the day of the celebration, she arrives in a fiery rage and casts a terrible spell on the baby: on her 20th birthday, Princess Aurora will prick her finger and die. The Kingdom is aghast. Another guest, the Fairy of Wisdom, the Lilac Fairy, responds quickly. She can’t undo Carabosse’s spell, but she can diminish it with a second spell: Princess Aurora will not die but will instead fall into a deep sleep. 

Carabosse is skeptical that the Lilac Fairy has overpowered her evil spell and defiantly gathers her minions and storms off. The King and Queen and all in the Kingdom are hopeful, placing their faith in the strength of the Lilac Fairy. 

Act One, 20 Years Later: The Spell 

The Kingdom gathers for Princess Aurora’s birthday. The garden is filled with flowers and the crowd with anticipation. Princess Aurora enters from the grand staircase. Four princes are among the guests, each who have traveled from far-away Kingdoms to win Princess Aurora’s heart. Each prince presents Princess Aurora with a rose. The presentations unfold in a celebrated ballet sequence known as the Rose Adagio.

After the dancing, Princess Aurora notices an old woman holding a beautiful bouquet. She approaches her to get a closer look, and the woman offers the bouquet as a gift. Princess Aurora dances about with the flowers, but the bliss of the moment ends abruptly when she pricks her finger on a spindle hidden deep within the bouquet. The old woman erupts in sinister laughter and reveals her true identity: the evil fairy Carabosse. Princess Aurora collapses in the arms of her parents. The four princes rally and give chase, but Carabosse disappears in a cloud of smoke.

As the dust settles, the Lilac Fairy arrives. She reminds everyone of the second spell: Princess Aurora is only asleep. The Lilac Fairy casts a spell of sleep over the entire Castle and everyone inside. When the Princess awakens, they will awaken too, but until then, the slumbering Kingdom is protected behind a shield of forest.

Later: True Love’s Kiss

A young Prince named Desire is off exploring with his tutor and friends. Included in the entourage is a countess who is determined to capture the Prince’s affection. Weary of the Countess’ advances, the Prince elects to let the group go ahead. Prince Desire is wistfully daydreaming when the Lilac Fairy appears. She has come to show him a vision of the Sleeping Beauty. Prince Desire is entranced and begs the Lilac Fairy to take him to the Princess at once. The Lilac Fairy summons a magical boat, and together they journey to the protected Kingdom. On the way, the Lilac Fairy tells Prince Desire the story of Carabosse’s rage and revenge and how the deadly spell was altered so that the entire Kingdom would instead slumber for 100 years. The Lilac Fairy also reveals to Prince Desire that while 100 years have passed, only true love’s kiss will awaken the Princess and her Kingdom. 

The Lilac Fairy and Prince Desire arrive at the castle, where flowers and ivy have grown thick all around Princess Aurora. Just as the Prince approaches to break the spell, Carabosse and her minions appear. They do all they can to stop Prince Desire from breaking the spell. The battle is fierce, but even outnumbered as he is, Prince Desire overpowers the minions. Without a moment’s hesitation, he rushes to Princess Aurora. Carabosse, seeing that her minions have failed, prepares a final attack. But it’s too late!

With a gentle kiss to the Princess’s forehead, Prince Desire awakens Aurora. The evil spell is forever broken. 

Act Three, The Wedding

The people in the Kingdom are overjoyed to have awakened from the curse of their 100-year slumber. The King and Queen open the palace’s grand hall to celebrate the day of Princess Aurora and Prince Desire’s wedding. 

The splendid affair includes a guest list of many familiar fairytale characters. Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Bluebird and Princess Florine are all in attendance, as are the fairies from the fateful day when that first spell was cast. 

All of the guests honour the Royal couple with their stories, and then Princess Aurora and Prince Desire celebrate their love with a grand Pas de Deux. 

Credits

MUSIC

Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty

COSTIMES AND WIGS

Courtesy BALLET WEST, Adam Salute, Artistic Director

Alberta Ballet Dancers

Guest Artists

  • Jacob August

    Jacob August began his dance career at the age of three, working his way through the Shumka School of Dance syllabus while pursuing his ever-growing passion for the art. Jacob was accepted into the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers in 2019, and has had the honour of being a part of many phenomenal productions ever since.

  • Annikka Dobko

    Originally from Grande Prairie, AB, Annikka Dobko received her dance education from various institutions including the School of Alberta Ballet and Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington DC. Additionally, she studied at summer intensive ballet programs at the Royal Ballet School Antwerp (Belgium), American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet School (New York), The National Ballet of Canada , Boston Ballet, Ballet West (Salt Lake City) and Oklahoma City Ballet.

  • Nicolas Pacholok

    Nicolas Pacholok began his dance education at the Shumka School of Dance, and upon graduation in 2016, he was offered an apprenticeship with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. Since then, Nicolas’ dance career with Shumka has included performances across Canada and the United States, dancing various roles in Shumka’s productions of Kobzar, Nutcracker, Ancestors & Elders, Mosquito’s Wedding, and Echoes of Hopak.

  • Canada's Ukrainian Nutcracker presented by Shumka

    About Shumka

    Established in Edmonton in 1959, the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers is Canada’s only professional Ukrainian dance company. Shumka presents dance-theatre touring productions, as well as intimate concert repertoire across the country and around the world. Along with Alberta Ballet and Edmonton Opera, Shumka is honoured to be a resident company of the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

    Shumka will be in the Jubilee performing Canada’s Ukrainian Nutcracker Dec. 15 and 16.

Meet tonight’s Aurora

Casting

Subject to Change

Alberta Ballet School Students

Edmonton Students from Alberta Ballet Classes

Fond Farewell

Yoshiya Sakurai is taking a new role behind-the-scenes.

Originally from Japan, Yoshiya Sakurai has delighted Alberta audiences as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Albrecht in Giselle, and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. Yoshiya’s talent and artistry will continue to inform Alberta Ballet productions as one of our rehearsal directors.

Please Join us in Celebrating Yoshiya’s eight incredible years of dance with Alberta Ballet and his 17-year performance career when he takes this final performance bow as Prince Desire at tonight’s The Sleeping Beauty!

Thank you to Wolfe Cadillac for their Support [LINK AND AD NEEDED]

Creative Team For
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

Alberta Ballet Artistic Support

YEE-HANG YAM
Artistic Operations Manager

REBECCA FAUSER
Company Manager

LARRY COPELAND
Stage Manager

EMMA SLUNT
Stage Manager

ANDREA GINTER
Lead Physiotherapist -
Momentum Health

COMPANY TEACHERS
Jennifer Gibson
Yoshiya Sakurai

COMPANY PIANISTS
Juanita Faas
Marina Fedorov
Michael Levin
Mary Martel
Lorel Leal
Matthew Kallio
Helena Barker

Up Next…

Join Us!

Forever Moved

Alberta Ballet’s Endowment Campaign

ALBERTA BALLET DONORS 2023/24

We’ve prepared a full calendar of inspiring activity for our donors in 2023-24 season!

​Our Donor Programs include Dance Circle and the Patron Program, and all membership donations through these program are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.*​​

Dance Circle – As a Dance Circle member, you help shape the future of Alberta Ballet with voting rights at our AGM and a deeper connection to our work. Plus, a Dance Circle membership enhances your subscription experience with special performance night benefits. 

Patron Program – Looking for ways to get closer to the art and artists you love? Alberta Ballet’s new patron program elevates experience in the theatre and beyond:​

​Tier 1: Connect with a community of dance lovers at events where you learn more about the artists in Alberta Ballet​​

Tier 2: The ultimate behind-the-scenes experience. Tier 2 Patron Program members gain insights all along the creation journey, from the studio to the stage​.

If you’re a passionate Alberta Ballet subscriber, consider taking part in our donor activities!

To find out more, email us at donate@albertaballet.com.

A whole community is working behind-the-scenes,
helping us inspire you with dance!

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2023/24 GOVERNMENT FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS