Classic ballet is a beauty
LIKE all good fairytales should, The Sleeping Beauty left me feeling enchanted.
I’ve never been to the ballet before, and I must admit I didn’t expect to be as captivated as I was. The opulent set and decadent costumes grabbed my attention from the start and created a very regal atmosphere.
Every move made by the company as a whole, in pairs or by the principal performers flying solo, was meticulous, reaching a climax with the grand pas de deux between Princess Aurora ( Elisha Willis) and Prince Florimund ( Jamie Bond).
Special mention must also be made of The Fairy Carabosse ( Samara Downs), who stole the show in the prologue for me with her wicked ways and commanding entrance, seated on a dark throne carried by her evil- looking attendants.
She is the one who curses Aurora on her christening day, vowing that one day she will prick her finger with a spindle and die – and all because she wasn’t asked to be a fairy godmother.
Fortunately, the Lilac Fairy ( Delia Matthews) promises that the princess will not die, but will fall into a deep sleep from which she will be awakened after 100 years by a prince’s kiss.
Watching the forest “grow” around the castle on stage was also an impressive piece of set design, as was the explosion of glitter in the finale, following the marriage of the prince and princess and a dance by the entire assembly.
There were lots of tired little girls in the audience by the end of the threehour show, but I’m sure after watching the Birmingham Royal Ballet, they’ll all grow up wanting to be ballerinas.