Greta Carley

University of Mississippi

The Russian National Ballet brings the fairytale “Sleeping Beauty” to life for one performance next week at the University of Mississippi’s Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

The show is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (April 25). Tickets are $46 for the Orchestra, Parterre and Tier 1 Box levels, $40 for the Mezzanine and Tier 2 Box levels and $34 Balcony. A 10 percent discount is available for all UM faculty, staff and retirees. Tickets can be purchased at the UM Box Office at the Ford Center, online at www.fordcenter.org or by telephone at 662-915-2787.

The ballet is based on Charles Perrault’s classic fairytale. It tells the story of a young princess who, on the day of her christening, is cursed by an evil fairy to prick her finger on her 16th birthday and die, but the benevolent Lilac Fairy declares that the princess will only sleep until she is awakened by the kiss of a prince.

“The Russian National Ballet is dedicated to producing classic ballets like ‘Sleeping Beauty,’” said Kate Meacham, Ford Center marketing director. “They are a premier ballet company and their productions are always magical.

“’Sleeping Beauty’ is a classic fairytale that most people know. It’s a great opportunity to introduce children to the ballet.”

The production is choreographed by Marius Petipa and is considered to be one of his greatest works. Petipa’s choreography paired with the compositions of Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky has made this ballet renowned. The lavish, yet refined blending of traditional ballet with the dramatics and eloquence of the theater is loved around the world.

The Russian National Ballet Theatre was founded in the late 1980s in Moscow. Originally known as the Soviet National Ballet, the company was founded by the graduates of the Russian choreographic schools of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Perm, and allowed them a place to showcase their works.

The Russian National Ballet is made up of 50 dancers, all experts in their field with decades of experience. Many of the dancers have been a part of the company since its inception.

For more information, visit www.fordcenter.org.