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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.

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  • Plot & Roles
  • Playlist
  • Performances
  • Related Stories
  • Original Choreography: Marius Petipa
  • Musical Score: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • Based on: Charles Perrault's "La Belle au bois dormant"

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


  • SYNOPSIS
• Prologue: The Christening
• Act I: The Spell
• Act II: The Vision
• Act III: The Wedding
• 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.

The Sleeping Beauty Music Playlist

Upcoming Performances

20 - 23 February
New National Theater Tokyo
National Ballet of Japan - The Sleeping Beauty

National Ballet of Japan: The Sleeping Beauty

1 Chome-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0071, Japan

View Details
20 - 23 February
New National Theater Tokyo
National Ballet of Japan - The Sleeping Beauty

National Ballet of Japan: The Sleeping Beauty

1 Chome-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0071, Japan

View Details
01 - 31 March
Belk Theater
Charlotte Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

Charlotte Ballet: Sleeping Beauty: A Fairy-Tailored Classic

130 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States

View Details
25 March - 24 April
Virtual
The National Ballet of Canada The Sleeping Beauty Variations

The National Ballet of Canada: The Sleeping Beauty Variations

View Details
30 April - 16 May
Citizens Bank Opera House
Boston Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

Boston Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

539 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, United States

View Details
26 - 30 May
Place des Arts - Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier
Les Grands Ballets - Sleeping Beauty

Les Grands Ballets: Sleeping Beauty

175 Saint-Catherine St W, Montreal, Quebec H2X 3X5, Canada

View Details
04 - 19 June
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Queensland Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

Queensland Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Cnr Grey and, Melbourne St, South Brisbane QLD 4101, Australia

View Details
04 - 19 June
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Queensland Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

Queensland Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Cnr Grey and, Melbourne St, South Brisbane QLD 4101, Australia

View Details
13 - 25 June
Hamburg State Opera
Hamburg Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

Hamburg Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Große Theaterstraße 25, 20354 Hamburg, Germany

View Details
13 - 25 June
Hamburg State Opera
Hamburg Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty

Hamburg Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Große Theaterstraße 25, 20354 Hamburg, Germany

View Details
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