Matthew Bourne is back with another re-imagined ballet. Known for mixing up conventional ballet with contemporary dance, and for bringing out the darker edge in these tales, Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty will not disappoint on either front. In this the first revival of the show which premiered in 2012, the music of Tchaikovsky’s original masterpiece allows Bourne to create a dark exciting new ballet. Imaginative, exciting and engaging Bourne never fails to bring ballet and the world of dance to life in a way that everyone can appreciate.
Critically acclaimed and smashing box office records, Sleeping Beauty has won the hearts of thousands since its premiere. Considered a new classic in the revolutionary dance company New Adventures’ repertoire, Sleeping Beauty has been revived to give people the opportunity to see the finest in cutting edge dance. The last piece in their Tchaikovsky trio, following Nutcracker! and Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty features stunning set and costume design, transporting the viewer through time from the Edwardian era to the modern day. Strikingly beautiful and set in a world of magic, fairies, vampires, love and romance, as ever Bourne promises a visual delight that would enchant everyone from dancing enthusiasts to the initiated.
Although it is ‘ballet’ set to the original classical don’t expect anything like a traditional ballet. As with all of Bourne’s work his choreography infuses contemporary dance and a new take on the traditional tale. A darkly gothic piece where good and evil are turned upside-down. Bourne’s reimagined Sleeping Beauty becomes a supernatural love story told through music and dance. As darkly intriguing as it is beautiful Sleeping Beauty is a great introduction to Bourne’s work and the work of dance as a whole. In its 2012 premiere tour Sleeping Beauty was the fastest selling production of the company’s history, luckily you don’t have 100 years to wait for princess Aurora to wake up and dance again.
EMILY GARSIDE
Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Tue 26 Apr-Sat 30 Apr. Tickets: £17.50-£35.50. Info: www.wmc.org.uk