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The Ballet Herald®
Home Famous Ballets

The Sleeping Beauty

Cherilyn J. LeebyCherilyn J. Lee
May 21, 2019 - Updated on March 21, 2025
in Famous Ballets
Reading Time: 3 mins read

The Sleeping Beauty
 

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • ★ Who are the characters in The Sleeping Beauty?
  • ★ What is the story of The Sleeping Beauty?
    • PROLOGUE: The Christening
    • ACT I: The Spell
    • ACT II: The Vision
    • ACT III: The Wedding
  • ★ Who composed the music for The Sleeping Beauty?
  • ★ Find The Sleeping Beauty Performances Near You
  • ★ Recent The Sleeping Beauty Stories
  • ★ Watch The Sleeping Beauty Online
  • ★ List of Classical Ballets

★ Who are the characters in The Sleeping Beauty?

The roles in the ballet are based on Charles Perrault’s “La Belle au bois dormant”.

(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


★ What is the story of The Sleeping Beauty?

The original choreography for the ballet The Sleeping Beauty was created by Marius Petipa.

Irrelevant to the plot, 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.

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.

(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 above is intended to provide general information; for details on different versions, click on each of the performances below.)

 

★ Who composed the music for The Sleeping Beauty?

The musical score for The Sleeping Beauty was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

 

★ Find The Sleeping Beauty Performances Near You

Jun 20 - 22
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan

Birmingham Royal Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Jun 26 - 29
Vienna State Opera

Vienna State Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Jun 27 - Jul 12
Opéra Bastille

Paris Opera Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Jul 2
Fenice Sacay

Birmingham Royal Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Jul 5
Aichi Prefectural Art Theater

Birmingham Royal Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Jul 22 - Dec 29
Adelaide Festival Centre

The Australian Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Load More

 

★ Recent The Sleeping Beauty Stories

Pacific Northwest Ballet Sleeping Beauty Review 2025
Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern Dance Performance Reviews

Pacific Northwest Ballet Sleeping Beauty Review: A Masterclass in Production Design

byJillian Verzwyvelt
February 20, 2025 - Updated on April 29, 2025
Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty Returns to Boston
The Latest Ballet News

Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty Returns to Boston

byBallet Herald News Desk
April 26, 2023 - Updated on October 25, 2023
Ballet West's Sleeping Beauty Awakens Again
The Latest Ballet News

Ballet West’s Sleeping Beauty Awakens Again

byBallet Herald News Desk
January 25, 2023 - Updated on October 26, 2023
Texas Ballet Theater Review - Ballet al Fresco
Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern Dance Performance Reviews

Texas Ballet Theater Review: A Fresh Perspective on Al Fresco

byJillian Verzwyvelt
May 16, 2021 - Updated on May 23, 2024
Load More

Find more news on The Ballet Herald YouTube Channel.

 

★ Watch The Sleeping Beauty Online

Sleeping Beauty (The Royal Ballet)
$1.99

Choreography by: Marius Petipa

Directed and Produced by: Ross MacGibbon

w/ Orchestra of the Royal Opera House conducted by: Valeriy Ovsyanikov

CAST

  • Aurora: Alina Cojocaru
  • Florimund: Federico Bonelli
  • Lilac Fairy: Marianela Nuñez
  • Carabosse: Genesia Rosato
Sleeping Beauty (The Royal Ballet)
Watch The Royal Ballet's Sleeping Beauty
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02/03/2025 05:00 pm GMT
The Sleeping Beauty (Staatsballett Berlin)

Choreography by: Nacho Duato, after Ivan Vsevolozhsky 

CAST

  • Aurora: Iana Salenko
  • Prince Désiré: Marian Walter
  • Lilac Fairy: Sara Mestrovic
  • Carabosse: Rishat Yulbarisov
The Sleeping Beauty (Staatsballett Berlin)
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★ List of Classical Ballets

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Cinderella

Coppélia

Don Quixote

Giselle

La Bayadère

La Sylphide

Romeo and Juliet

Swan Lake

The Nutcracker

The Sleeping Beauty

Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn's lifelong passion for ballet has opened the door to the next chapter of her journey. Her strong foundation includes training at the School of American Ballet, being a featured dancer with Hartford Ballet and Carolina Ballet, and being co-director/owner of City Ballet Raleigh. She was granted the Affiliate Teacher Award after successfully completing the ABT National Training Curriculum®. A professional career in the industry along with extensive global travel provide her with a unique set of experiences to draw upon as a journalist and audience member. Cherilyn is excited to be sharing her insight and news about ballet around the world.

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