K- This past Friday I saw the ballet “Sleeping Beauty” (above photo from website) at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by New Adventures, a contemporary dance company from the U.K., directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne.
The story pulls from a couple of versions of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale and adds to it as well – like vampires.
The sets were amazing as were the costumes. The choreography – well, it was a bit repetitive. The first act I was very excited. It is very creative in that the baby Aurora is a puppet and I applaud the puppeteers because it was realistic yet fantastic but not hokey. The “Blue Fairy” in the Disney version is now “Count Lilac” in this one – sounds “vampirish” doesn’t it? There is not Prince Charming but Leo, a commoner. However, as it moved on, the scenes and costumes changed in an exciting way but not the dancing. The dancing was good but it went on and on with the same steps no surprises – a little disappointing.
Overall, I am glad I went as I did enjoy it.
Other ballets coming up at the Kennedy Center include the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker, Mariinskys Ballet’s Swan Lake and American Ballet Theater’s Don Quixote. Theater shows that are coming to the Kennedy Center such as Elf The Musical, Peter and the Starcatcher and Flashdance The Musical look like they will be fun.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566
Tickets and Information: 800-444-1324 or 202-467-4600
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