Audiences will experience the timeless tale as The Tchaikovsky Ballet performs original choreography from the 1890 classic.

The Tchaikovsky Ballet, one of Russia’s most distinguished ballet companies, will perform their critically acclaimed production of Sleeping Beauty at the Detroit Opera House March 26-28th.  The production will feature Tchaikovsky’s whimsical score and Marius Petipa’s original choreography.

The story, based on the 1697 books by Charles Perrault, begins in an imaginary kingdom far away where a king and queen celebrate the long awaited birth of their only child, Princess Aurora.  All are invited to attend the celebration including fairies who, invited as godmothers, offer the princess blessings of beauty, wit and grace.  In a vengeful twist, an angry fairy puts a curse on Aurora that can only be undone with her true love’s kiss.  Sleeping Beauty is one of the most enduring fairy tales of all time, popularized in the U.S. by Walt Disney’s 1959 adaptation that featured music from the Tchaikovsky ballet.

A special dinner and dance package will be offered to audiences during the Saturday night performance on Saturday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m.  The package will include a three course meal and a glass of wine at Shiraz in Bingham Farms at 5:00 pm, a premium seat at the opera house during the performance and complimentary transportation to the restaurant from the opera house and back for $89.

An intermediate and advanced ballet class will also be offered on Saturday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m. for free to Sleeping Beauty ticket holders and $25 for the general public.  The class will take place in the Margo V. Cohen Center for Dance at the Detroit Opera House in the Ford Center for Arts and Learning, 5th floor.

The Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre of Perm, Russia premiered their first ballet season in 1926 and is known for producing both classical and contemporary works, with an emphasis on the ballets of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  The company is unique in that it draws all of its dancers from its own school, one of the most prestigious training institutions for ballet in Russia.  The artists from the company have distinguished themselves in international and national competitions.  The company is also greatly influenced by several Kirov artists and shares the styles and standards of the Kirov school, which is historically known for its structured and refined approach to ballet.

Tickets for the March 26-28th performances of Tchaikovsky Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty at the magnificent Detroit Opera House range from $29-$76 and are available at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48826), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) or online at www.MichiganOpera.org.  Tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com.

The Tchaikovsky Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty:

• Friday, March 26, 2010 7:30 p.m
• Saturday, March 27, 2010 2:30 p.m
• Saturday, March 27, 2010 7:30 p.m
• Sunday, March 28, 2010 2:30 p.m