Ballet Theatre of Queensland’s The Sleeping Beauty. Ted Cooper and Corina Poh in Bluebird pas de deux. Photo by Tom Baker.
What is it about the fairy tales of Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty? These stories are known inside out and audiences have watched countless interpretations on TV, in Films and in books, yet the fascination with them continues. How well these stories are told artistically is one enticement, and the age-old conflict between good and evil is another.
Ballet Theatre of Queensland’s The Sleeping Beauty showcased plenty of eye-popping colour from pastels and metallic, to peacock blue as worn by the very talented Corina Poh, created stunning tableaux on stage in this lovingly buffed and extraordinarily well-polished rerun of Ballet Theatre’s 2015 The Sleeping Beauty production.
Some 31 Dance Schools were represented in the large cast, which consisted of many, many dancers of a broad age group from the early school years through to university.
With refreshed choreography and superb orchestration by Artistic Director Timothy Brown, the delightfully framed individual dances by solo artists revealed each of the dancer’s special skills and personalities as they entertained the court. A pleasing set design by Bill Haycock and Wesley Bluff’s choice lighting effects complemented Carmel Wenck’s gorgeous costumes in the celebration of Princess Aurora’s royal christening.
But darkness soon arrives in the form of Carabosse clad in a big-sleeved gothic dress fashioned in purply-bruised hues. Autumn Williams danced distinctively as she plunges the previously happy proceedings in gloom and casts a wicked spell on the baby princess. Incidentally, Shanti Barlow deserves credit for her elegant forays as The Lilac Fairy and Indika Ashton exuded grace and charm as Princess Aurora.
Ballet Theatre of Queensland’s The Sleeping Beauty. Photo by Tom Baker.
In a production of high standards, stylistic detail and joy and pride flowing from each of the cast, the occasional slip, mistiming or a percussively slapped ballet shoe could easily be overlooked because these mini blemishes didn’t detract from the impressively skilled assembly of dedicated dancers who proudly gave their all in every choreographed sequence and shaped their turns and balances with elan. Those dancing as grasshoppers in vivid green costumes travelled in neat, disciplined lines and drew a chuckle or two as they jumped in perfect unity from a squatting position. The youngsters whose routines conjured a vixen and fox had considerable charm.
Ballet Theatre’s mission to inspire and train dancers for the ballet profession sets the bar high. A smart move then to bring three ex-students from Melbourne, Tristan Fraser-Preston, a recruit of Victorian State Ballet, Ted Cooper now studying at the Bolshoi Academy and Jordan Lennon who has performed with The Royal New Zealand Ballet to execute virtuosic solos with breathtaking leaps, admirably extended pirouettes and fouettes. This production was entertaining, superbly rehearsed by Clare Morehen and points to a successful season ahead.
Rating: 4 ½ stars ★★★★☆
The Sleeping Beauty
Ballet Theatre of Queensland
Choreography Timothy Brown
Set design Bill Haycock
Costume design Carmel Wenck
Lighting design Wesley Bluff
16-19 January 2019
QPAC, Brisbane
