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Home Famous Ballets

The Sleeping Beauty

Learn about the characters, plot, music, interesting facts, and upcoming performances of The Sleeping Beauty, one of the most famous classical ballets.

  • What are the characters in The Sleeping Beauty?
  • What is the story of The Sleeping Beauty?
  • What is the music for The Sleeping Beauty?
  • Where is The Sleeping Beauty performned?
  • Related Stories
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  • Original Choreography: Marius Petipa
  • Musical Score: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • Based on: Charles Perrault's "La Belle au bois dormant"

The Sleeping Beauty Plot & Roles

*Classical ballets have evolved over time, lending themselves to different interpretations as choreographers and directors create works that reflect their visions of the story. The following is intended to provide general information; for details on different versions, click on each of the The Sleeping Beauty performances below.

  • PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS IN THE SLEEPING BEAUTY (in alphabetical order)

 
Carabosse: An evil fairy, antagonist to Lilac Fairy


 
King Florestan: Father to Aurora


 
Lilac Fairy: A good fairy


 
Prince Désiré: Aurora’s true love


 
Princess Aurora: Daughter to the King and Queen


 
Queen: Wife of King Florestan, Mother to Aurora


  • THE SLEEPING BEAUTY SYNOPSIS
⊙ PROLOGUE: THE CHRISTENING

King Florestan and his Queen have a christening ceremony for their first child, Princess Aurora. Invited are fairies – led by the most powerful Lilac Fairy – who bestow gifts upon the child such as beauty, dance, song, courage, grace, and kindness. Carabosse, an evil fairy, never receives an invite and in her rage curses the baby. She claims that on Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, the girl will die from a prick of her finger on a spindle. The Lilac Fairy – although unable to reverse the curse completely – alters it to say that indeed Aurora will prick her finger on a spindle, but she will not die; rather she will fall into a 100-year slumber, only to be woken by the kiss of a prince.

⊙ ACT I: THE SPELL

Sixteen years later, a party is thrown to celebrate Aurora’s birthday. Four suitors have been invited to win her hand in marriage and the quintet dance the famous Rose Adagio. During the festivities, a cloaked figure enters bearing a spindle. Recalling the curse placed on their daughter years ago, the King and Queen are cautious and attempt to intercept Aurora’s curiosity. This is to no avail. The young girl pricks her finger on the spindle and Carabosse – unknowing of the Lilac Fairy’s counter spell – believes that she has succeeded in killing Aurora. Upon the evil fairy leaving the party, Lilac Fairy reminds the family and guests of the Princess’s true state, that she is merely in a long slumber.

The good fairy also places the entire village under a spell of slumber; they are only to awaken when Aurora does.

⊙ ACT II: THE VISION

A century later, Prince Désiré is on a hunting party with some friends in the same forest where Aurora lies. In a moment of solitude Lilac Fairy appears, tells him the Princess’ story, and asks if he will be the one to kiss her. Smitten by the vision of beauty, he immediately agrees.

Upon kissing Aurora, the entire court also awakens. The King and Queen approve of Prince Désiré’s proposal to marry their daughter; Aurora accepts.

⊙ ACT III: THE WEDDING

The royal wedding takes place, blessed by the Lilac Fairy. Guests in attendance include the Jewel Fairies and fairy tale characters.

★ INTERESTING FACT ★
Irrelevant to the plot of THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, the third act of the ballet – Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré’s wedding – includes a series of divertissement based on characters of Charles Perrault’s other stories. They include Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, and Bluebird. The latter, along with his partner Princess Florine, are often considered featured roles in the ballet although they in no way serve the story.
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10 FAMOUS CLASSICAL BALLETS

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Giselle
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La Bayadère
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La Sylpide
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Swan Lake
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The Nutcracker
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The Sleeping Beauty
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The Sleeping Beauty Music Playlist

Upcoming The Sleeping Beauty Performances

16 January - 04 March
Royal Opera House
The Royal Ballet The Sleeping Beauty

The Royal Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Bow St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD, United Kingdom

View Details
27 January - 03 February
Hamburg State Opera
Hamburg Ballet The Sleeping Beauty

Hamburg Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Große Theaterstraße 25, 20354 Hamburg, Germany

View Details
10 - 18 February
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
Ballet West The Sleeping Beauty

Ballet West: The Sleeping Beauty

50 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States

View Details
15 - 26 February
David H. Koch Theater​
New York City Ballet The Sleeping Beauty

New York City Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, United States

View Details
16 - 19 February
University of Arkansas
Ballet Arkansas The Sleeping Beauty

Ballet Arkansas: The Sleeping Beauty

3000 W Scenic Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72118, United States

View Details
02 - 12 March
Academy of Music
Philadelphia Ballet The Sleeping Beauty

Philadelphia Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

240 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States

View Details
04 March
Mayo Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Ballet The Sleeping Beauty

New Jersey Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

100 South St, Morristown, NJ 07960, United States

View Details
26 March
Mayo Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Ballet Once Upon a Time

New Jersey Ballet: Once Upon a Time

100 South St, Morristown, NJ 07960, United States

View Details
07 - 09 April
Capital One Hall
The Washington Ballet Aurora's Wedding

The Washington Ballet: Aurora’s Wedding

7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102, United States

View Details
16 April
Bergen Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Ballet Once Upon a Time

New Jersey Ballet: Once Upon a Time

30 N Van Brunt St, Englewood, NJ 07631, United States

View Details
26 - 30 April
Grimaldi Forum
Les Ballets de Monte Carlo The Beautiful

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: The Beautiful

10 Av. Princesse Grace, 98000 Monaco

View Details
04 - 07 May
The Kennedy Center​
The Washington Ballet The Sleeping Beauty

The Washington Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566, United States

View Details
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Famous Ballets
  • Cinderella
  • Coppélia
  • Don Quixote
  • Giselle
  • La Bayadère
  • La Sylphide
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Swan Lake
  • The Nutcracker
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