Gelsey Kirkland Ballet to Present THE SLEEPING BEAUTY at Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, 5/16-18

Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, under the artistic direction of Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov, presents The Sleeping Beauty, one of the most beloved and famous ballets in the classical repertoire. With choreography by Marius Petipa and music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, this enchanting fairy tale ballet was first performed in 1890 at the Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. It is a true masterpiece and the epitome of dramatic storytelling in the classical tradition. Gelsey Kirkland Ballet makes this return to the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts (3 Spruce Street, between Park Row and Gold Street) Friday May 16 at 7:30pm, Saturday May 17 at 1:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday, May 18 at 1:30pm.

With lavish sets and costumes,Gelsey Kirlkland Ballet's staging of the full-length production of The Sleeping Beauty explores all of the well-known highlights of this ballet: the opulence of the royal court, the fairies' magical realm, the haunting vision scene, the Prince's boat journey through the thorny forest, and the miraculous kiss that awakens Princess Aurora from the curse of her century-long sleep. The heart of the drama is played out as the conflict between the forces of good (the Lilac Fairy) and evil (Carabosse), and the triumph of a noble love that survives not only 100 years, but for all eternity. The ballet is indeed a timeless love story and a glorious spectacle, which our young company celebrates with joyous dancing, as well as an engaging display of acting talent. Bringing classical dance and drama to life is our mission and signature.

The role of Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty was one of the hallmarks of Gelsey Kirkland's stage career, and once again she is passing on this classical treasure to a new generation of dancers.

The Gelsey Kirkland Ballet is truly an international company with dancers hailing from Brazil, Russia, Israel, Columbia, Korea, Iran and Macedonia in additional to the United States of America. The cast of "Sleeping Beauty" is enhanced by students of the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet.

Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, is under the artistic leadership of Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov. The company, consisting of some of the most gifted and passionate ballet dancers from the United States and around the world, is capable of realizing diverse and compelling theatrical ideas through specialized, comprehensive training and direction. The company develops new, innovative dramatic ballets, while at the same time building a repertoire of traditional classical works. Gelsey Kirkland Ballet also provides residencies and exciting creative opportunities for gifted choreographers, musicians, designers, and dramaturgs.

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