The Sleeping Beauty, Birrmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Hippodrome
GLITTERING and luxurious, Birmingham Royal Ballet treated audiences to a mesmerizing performance of The Sleeping Beauty on February 13.
The stage at the Hippodrome was transformed into the opulent world of the Imperial Russian ballet, with a marvellous mixture of virtuoso dance and fairy tale characters, and the cast were mesmerizing in their strength and poise.
As we follow the well-known tale of a wicked fairy’s curse, with one touch of a spindle, a beautiful princess falls into a deep, enchanted sleep which can only be broken by a kiss from a prince.
With costumes almost literally dazzling and a delicate beauty that at times caused the audience to give a collective gasp, The Sleeping Beauty is an enchanting experience for all the family.
With live music from the acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia, and gloriously gilt stage sets, this really is the kind of ballet that young girls dream of.
A world of princesses, fairies, flowing gowns, twirling ballerinas and tumbling flowers, with just enough glamour and darkness from the wicked fairy to keep us enraptured.
It is a story you know – but not quite as you know it.
This magical three hour show features two intervals, giving us time to ponder the plot and take in the exotic language of dance.
It feels as though the Birmingham Royal Ballet have really treated us to an experience: timeless and something to remember.
The Sleeping Beauty is at Birmingham Hippodrome until February 24. Tickets cost from £13 on 0844 338 5000 or visit https://www.brb.org.uk/ .
Imogen Buller
