February 27, 2019 – March 3, 2019

Choreography after Marius Petipa with staging & additional choreography by Julie Kent & Victor Barbee.
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, featuring The Washington Ballet Orchestra

In this section:

The romantic and timeless tale of a magical kiss and the beloved story of Princess Aurora, her handsome prince, and the evil Carabosse. A quintessential classical ballet inspired by the fairy tale of true love’s kiss and the triumph of good over evil presented at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater.

Read The Washington Post review

The Washington Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty. Photo by XMB Photography.

The Washington Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty. Photo by XMB Photography.

The Washington Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty. Photo by XMB Photography.

The Washington Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty. Photo by XMB Photography.

The Washington Ballet's Katherine Barkman and Rolando Sarabia. Photo by XMB Photography.

Sleeping Beauty Synopsis

“The Washington Ballet awakens with a lavish, triumphant ‘Sleeping Beauty’ one beautifully detailed scene after another, masses of sumptuous costumes and a breakout, starmaking showcase for dazzling new Company member Katherine Barkman. It is every bit the show of refinement it was destined to be.”

Sarah Kaufman, The Washington Post

The Sleeping Beauty tells the tale of beautiful Princess Aurora, the long-awaited child of King and Queen Florestan. At her christening, the Fairies of Valor, Fervor, Felicity, and Charity present the baby Aurora with gifts and blessings. The most powerful fairy of all, the Lilac Fairy promises to protect the young Princess throughout her life. Enraged at not receiving an invitation from the royal family, the evil Fairy Carabosse takes revenge on the kingdom invoking a curse that Princess Aurora, on her 16th birthday, will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy, through her protective powers of benevolence, proclaims that Aurora will not die when the prophecy is fulfilled. Instead, Aurora will fall into a deep sleep until she is awakened by true love’s kiss.

Prologue
The Sleeping Beauty tells the tale of beautiful Princess Aurora, the long-awaited child of King and Queen Florestan. At her christening, the Fairies of Valor, Fervor, Felicity, and Charity present the baby Aurora with gifts and blessings. The most powerful fairy of all, the Lilac Fairy promises to protect the young Princess throughout her life. Enraged at not receiving an invitation from the royal family, the evil Fairy Carabosse takes revenge on the kingdom invoking a curse that Princess Aurora, on her 16th birthday, will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy, through her protective powers of benevolence, proclaims that Aurora will not die when the prophecy is fulfilled. Instead, Aurora will fall into a deep sleep until she is awakened by true love’s kiss.

Act I
Guided and protected by the gifts of the Fairies, the Princess matures into a radiant young woman. The King and Queen host a grand celebration on the occasion of her sixteenth birthday inviting Princes from around the world to win her affection and hand in marriage. Carabosse appears in disguise and presents a gift: a bewitched spindle on which the Princess pricks her finger and collapses. Upon her arrival, the Lilac Fairy assures that Aurora is in a deep sleep and beseeches her pages to protect the Princess until the curse is broken. She then casts her own spell over the entire kingdom, which descends into a peaceful slumber alongside the Princess.

Act II
One hundred years pass before the Lilac Fairy finds Prince Désiré, despondent and seeking purpose. When the Prince leaves his companions in a hunting party to find solace alone, the Lilac Fairy appears and presents a vision of the lovely Princess Aurora who, surrounded by nymphs, beckons to him. Impassioned by the image of the Sleeping Princess, Prince Désiré embarks on a quest to find and awaken her. With the help of the Lilac Fairy, the Prince overcomes Carabosse and her minions, finds his way to the beautiful Princess, awakens her with a kiss, and breaks the spell over the sleeping kingdom.

Act III
In the royal court, celebrations ensue with many special guests including Princess Florine and the Bluebird, Puss-in-Boots and the White Cat, and Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. The King blesses the marriage of Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré, as the Lilac Fairy presides over the lasting happiness of all.

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Cast

Eun Won Lee

Eun Won Lee

Princess Aurora

Eun Won Lee from Korea is in her third season with The Washington Ballet. She was formerly a Principal dancer with Korean National Ballet for six years and received her …

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Maki Onuki

Maki Onuki

Princess Aurora

Born in Kanagawa, Japan, Maki enters her 18th season with The Washington Ballet after one season with The Studio Company. Before joining TWB, she danced and studied with Goh Ballet …

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Ayano Kimura

Ayano Kimura

Princess Aurora

Ayano Kimura of Japan, is in 13th season with The Washington Ballet and sixth year teaching at The Washington School of Ballet. Kimura, born in Germany, went on a short-term …

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Andile Ndlovu

Andile Ndlovu

Prince Desire

Andile Ndlovu of Johannesburg, South Africa, is in his ninth season with The Washington Ballet, after dancing one season with TWB’s Studio Company. Ndlovu began his training in Latin American …

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Ariel Martinez

Ariel Martinez

Prince Desire

Ariel Martínez began his ballet studies at School of Ballet Alejo Carpentier and continued his education at Fernando Alonso National Ballet School, associated with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. His instructors included Dunia Vera, Verónica Muxó, Normaria Olaechea, and Elena Cangas. He has competed in Italy, South Africa, Mexico, and Cuba, obtaining awards in many of these events, including a silver medal in the contest of the International Meeting of Academies for the Teaching of Ballet in 2014 and a gold medal for contemporary ballet performing Innovation in South Africa in 2016. In 2014 he became a company member of Ballet Nacional de Cuba, becoming a first soloist in 2016. He performed in the world premiere of Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa’s Oscurio, as well as her ballet Celeste. His repertoire includes Giselle, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Coppélia, and other other ballets by noteable Cuban choreographers. Martínez is now a company member of The Washington Ballet.

Ariel Martinez is sponsored by The Honorable Ann Brown.

Photo by XMB Photography.

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