“SLEEPING BEAUTY”
AUSTRALIAN TOUR – AUGUST – NOVEMBER 2012
Following their sell-out 2009. 2010 and 2011 performances of “Swan Lake”, “The Nutcracker” and “Festival Of Russian Ballet”, The Imperial Russian Ballet Company return to Australia to present Tchaikovsky’s outstanding 3-Acts “Sleeping Beauty” in August until November 2012, proudly presented by Russian Ballet Touring.
Act One: (1hr 5mins) This classic masterpiece in three acts, commences with the christening of Princess Aurora. The King forgets to invite the bad fairy, Carabosse, who bursts into the castle at the conclusion of the ceremony and casts a spell that the Princess will die from a prick of a needle at age 16. The King orders that all knitting needles in the Kingdom are to be destroyed and that anyone who is in possession of a knitting needle will be executed.
16 years later…The Master of Ceremonies finds four women knitting. He takes the needles from them and brings them before the King who immediately sentences them to death. The King’s wife is horrified and asks the King to pardon them as it is the birthday of their daughter Princess Aurora. The King grants their freedom and the festivities begin. On her sixteenth birthday, Princess Aurora dances with each of the four princes who have come to ask for her hand. An old women appears in the hall and presents her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. However she pricks her finger on a concealed knitting needle hidden in the bouquet of flowers and falls into a deep sleep.
Act Two: (25mins) 100 years later…..Prince Deserea and his party are hunting for birds in the forest where he encounters the Lilac Fairy. The Lilac Fairy makes him fall asleep and in his dreams the Prince dances and falls in love with Princess Aurora however the Evil Fairy “Carabosse” bursts into the dream, steals the princess and takes her to her castle. When the Prince awakens he sees the outline of the castle and drawing his sword he charges into the castle where he finds the Princess of his dreams. He kisses her gently and after 100 years sleeping the Princess awakens. Witchcraft is defeated and all of the court wakes.
Act Three: (45mins) A holiday is declared for Princess Auroras Wedding to Prince Deserea. Invited guests are entertained by fairy tale characters, as the joyous occasion is celebrated by the Kingdom.
Be amazed while The Imperial Russian Ballet Company perform their spectacular “Sleeping Beauty”. The Imperial Russian Ballet Company was formed in 1994 by the Bolshoi Theatre soloist, Gediminas Taranda. They have combined the unity and integrity of the great Russian Ballet Schools where traditions are passed on from one generation to another. The founders of the company acknowledge and respect the Russian Imperial dynasty which has made such a contribution to the development of the arts and in establishing the system of Imperial theatres including the Bolshoi and the Marinski theatres. The prime choreographic style adopted by the Company is a classical one, however they also indulge in modern dance. Their stage repertoire is based on the combination of classical masterpieces and modern choreographic pieces.
The Imperial Russian Ballet Company has been touring world-wide since 1994. They have staged classic masterpieces in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and the Mossovet Theatre. The home venue for the troupe when they perform in Moscow is now the Kolobov Novaya Opera Theatre. The cast of 40 elite dancers and support staff will travel from Moscow to Canberra for the Australian Opening Performances on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd August at the Canberra Theatre Centre.
GEDIMINAS TARANDA – HEAD & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Gediminas Taranda was born in Kaliningrad in 1961 and grew up in Voronezh. He trained at the State Academic Moscow Ballet School from 1978-1980 before joining the Bolshoi Baller as a soloist. For thirteen years until 1993 Gediminas Taranda was a star of the Bolshoi Theatre performing in many ballets including: “Golden Age”, “Giselle”, “Ivan the Terrible”, “The Stone Flowers” and “Spartacus”.
In 1994 he formed and became Artistic Director of The Imperial Russian Ballet Company bringing on board friends who were dancers at the Bolshoi and Kirov ballets including Maija Pilsetskaya who is one of Russia’s most famous ballerinas.
She supported the company and in 1994 they performed with her on stage to celebrate her 50th anniversary as a performer. In 1996, she was named President of the Imperial Russian Ballet Company.
Gediminas Taranda has produced and participated in many charitable performances to raise funds for the struggle against cancer, and is an active participant of AAD (Art Against Drugs) in association with “The Russian Fund of Culture”.
In 1997 he was awarded the title “Man of the Year” and the “Silver Cross Award”. In 2004 he received an award from the Russian Federation honouring his work in the Arts and in 2008 was the winner of the Diaghilev medal for his contribution to art.
He was invited to work as a motivational coach for the Russian Gymnastics team at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. His strive for perfection with all whom he works with is best epitomised in his own words: “If something is worth fighting for, you have to fight until the last breath (is left) in your body”.
WIN TICKETS TO THIS AMAZING PRODUCTION!!
WE HAVE 5 X DOUBLE PASSES TO GIVE AWAY – ONE IN EACH CAPITAL CITY!
EMAIL US AT win@dancelife.com.au
“SLEEPING BEAUTY” TOUR DATES
CANBERRA – Canberra Theatre Centre – Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd August, 2012 – Bookings: (02) 6275 2700 or www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
MELBOURNE – Her Majesty’s Theatre – Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August, 2012 – Bookings: Ticketek or www.ticketek.com.au
SYDNEY – State Theatre – Thursday 30th, Friday 31st August, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September, 2012 – Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 139 588 or www.ticketmaster.com.au
WOLLONGONG – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre – Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th, Thursday 6th and Friday 7th September, 2012 – Bookings: (02) 4224 5999 or www.ipac.org.au
NEWCASTLE – Civic Theatre – Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September, 2012 – Bookings: (02) 4929 1977 or www.ticketek.com.au
GRIFFITH – Regional Theatre – Tuesday 11th September, 2012 – Bookings: Bookings: (02) 6962 8444 or www.griffith.nsw.gov.au
ALBURY Entertainment Centre – Wednesday 12th September, 2012 – Bookings: (02) 6051 3051 or www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au
FRANKSTON Arts Centre – Thursday 13th September, 2012 – Bookings: (03) 9784 1060 or www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au
GEELONG – The Playhouse – Friday 21st September, 2012 – Bookings: (03) 5225 1200 or www.gpac.com.au
TANUNDA – Barossa Arts & Convention Centre – Sunday 23rd September, 2012 – Bookings:
ADELAIDE – Festival Theatre – Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th September, 2012 – Bookings: BASS 131 246 or www.bass.net.au
GOLD COAST – The Arts Centre – Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October, 2012 – Bookings: (07) 5588 4000 or www.theartscentregc.com.au
BRISBANE – QPAC Concert Hall – Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th October, 2012 – Bookings: www.qpac.com.au or 136 246 (Tickets On Sale 1st August, 2012)
CALOUNDRA – The Events Centre – Thursday 25th October, 2012 – Bookings: (07) 5491 4240 or www.etixdirect.com.au
IPSWICH – Civic Centre – Friday 26th October, 2012 – Bookings: (07) 3810 6100 or www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au
TOOWOOMBA – Empire Theatre – Saturday 27th October, 2012 – Bookings: 1300 655 299 or www.empiretheatre.com.au
MARYBOROUGH – Brolga Theatre – Sunday 28th October, 2012 – Bookings: (07) 4122 6060 or www.brolgatheatre.org
ROCKHAMPTON – Pilbeam Theatre – Tuesday 30th October, 2012 – Bookings: (07) 4927 4111 or www.venueandevents.com.au
MACKAY Entertainment Centre – Wednesday 31st October, 2012 – Bookings: Mackay Tix (07) 4961 9777
CAIRNS – Civic Theatre – Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd November, 2012 – Bookings: TicketLink 1300 855 835 or www.ticketlink.com.au
TOWNSVILLE – Civic Theatre – Saturday 3rd November, 2012 – Bookings: The Ticket Shop (07) 4727 9797
MANDURAH Performing Arts Centre – Wednesday 7th November, 2012 – Bookings: (08) 9550 3900 or www.manpac.com.au
PERTH – Regal Theatre – Thursday 8th, Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November, 2012 – Bookings: Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Website: www.russianballet.com.au
