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Dance Program - Special Events
The legend of “The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood”, originally told as the first of a set of fairy tale classics written in 1697 by Charles Perrault and redone many years later by the Brothers Grimm, has been know from generation to generation. Its fame was written in history when Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was reluctantly commissioned to compose the ballet with the infamous choreographer Marius Petipa, and it premiered in the Saint Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre on January 24, 1890. The ballet has been reproduced by hundreds of companies and remains one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular and retold ballets. Throughout history, the two versions have remained distant in their similarities and their portrayals of the beautiful princess who was cursed to sleep forever in a high tower.
On June 7th 2008, at 7:00 PM, the story of the “Waking Beauty” will take place as the retelling of these classics are intertwined into one tale by Gadsden, Alabama’s Downtown Dance Conservatory. Written and choreographed by artistic director Linze Rickles McRae, the story begins much like the classic ballet, in a castle far away surrounded by a realm of faerie. When the good queen is blessed with the birth of her first child, the entire kingdom is invited to join in a celebration for the beautiful young princess named Aurora. The faeries from all over the realm are invited as well, including the three powerful faeries of the temperaments, to give their gifts and blessings to the child. But when the invitation to the celebration is not extended to the fourth temperament fairy, the evil Carabosse, she arrives in revenge to bring her curse of eternal sleep upon Aurora and the entire kingdom. That night the three fairies devise a plan to switch an orphaned peasant child into the castle, and take the princess born child into the woods to protect and raise her as their own. They rename her Briar Rose and keep her identity a secret until the curse of Carabosee is reawakened. The story unfolds with a cast of over two hundred fifty dancers currently training at the Conservatory as Briar Rose and Aurora learn of their true identities and the power of kindness.
The main roles will be danced by the Downtown Dance Artist’s Ensemble, a group of dancers also training at the Conservatory. The costumes of the main roles have been recycled and resewn from vintage dresses circa the 1950’s and 60’s. The sets are also originally designed, and the show will be sure to please audience members of all ages. The Downtown Dance Conservatory is housed inside the Hardin Center for Cultural Arts, and as a full member of the National Guild for Community Schools for the Arts, trains students from the surrounding community in classical and contemporary dance. Director Linze McRae, is currently studying with the Faculty of Education of the London, England based Royal Academy of Dance. Tickets for “Waking Beauty” can be purchased through the Conservatory. For more information please call 256-543-2787 ext. 41.
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