Las night we went to the ballet at the Tyne Theatre. We went to see the Moscow Ballet La Classique’s production of the Sleeping Beauty. It was a beautiful, traditional and rich performance with the voluptuous score by Tchaikovsky. We’ve been to the ballet several times now but if you’d told me a few years ago that I would enjoy it so much I’m not sure that I would have believed you.
The story of The Sleeping Beauty is quite simple, as all good stories are and everyone knows it but it strikes so many chords with the essence of being human: the love of parents for their child; that there is evil in the world; that good will always conquer, even if it takes a hundred years to do so; and that every princess has their own prince out there somewhere to adore her. In many ways it is the story of human hopes, fears and aspirations.
At the christening ceremony of Princess Aurora, a wicked spell is cast upon her by the evil fairy Carabosse but fortunately the Lilac fairy is able to counteract the spell and instead of the princess dying, she will fall into a deep sleep. Her fate comes true on Aurora’s sixteenth birthday when she pricks her finger with a poisoned needle, a pang of pain that every parent feels for their hurt child. Only love at first sight, a hundred years later can rouse the princess and the rest of the court from their slumbers. Love has broken the spell, evil is defeated and once more good reigns supreme and, of course, Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund live happily ever after.
I’m not a dancer, I certainly don’t have the physique let alone the talent but I am mesmerised by the ballet as an art form. It transforms the mortal human body from something coarse and simian into a seductive, graceful and sensuous form that transcends the limits of what we think we are.
The theatre was full of atmosphere and the audience appreciative. The dancing was superb. The female dancers were full of grace and beauty while the men were exquisitely athletic, their control and precision was breathtaking. The choreography was crisp and fitted the music perfectly, with dancers and melody in absolute harmony. The costumes were magical and brought the story to life and overall the whole performance was an emotional, invigorating and enjoyable experience.
I’m looking forward already to my next visit to the ballet and my only regret is that I did not start to appreciate it much earlier in my life.
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 