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City Center Ballet Returns The Sleeping Beauty to the Lebanon Opera House Stage

City Center Ballet Returns The Sleeping Beauty to the Lebanon Opera House Stage
The Sleeping Beauty was City Center Ballet’s first ballet during their premier season in 1999 and returns to the Lebanon Opera House on April 26th and 27th as the ballet company celebrates fifteen successful years in the Upper Valley.On April 26th, at 7:00 pm and April 27th, at 1:00 pm; City Center Ballet will perform The Sleeping Beauty on the stage of the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, NH. This timeless story of the healing power of love was the first ballet danced by the burgeoning dance company in 1999, their premier season.

“We are bringing The Sleeping Beauty back for more than just nostalgia,” says City Center Ballet’s Artistic Director Linda Copp. “When we select a ballet, we do so with consideration for the dancers we are currently working with. The Sleeping Beauty will showcase the talents of our current dancers beautifully. The fact that we premiered with this ballet makes it a particularly nice addition to this notable fifteenth season.”

The Sleeping Beauty is an enduring romance that tells the story of Princess Aurora, who has been cursed by jealous fairy Carabosse, and Prince Désiré who wakes the princess from a death-like sleep with love’s life-preserving kiss. The ballet tells a story of love against a backdrop of the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Jennifer Henderson has created original choreography for The Sleeping Beauty, based on the work of Marius Petipa and set to the music of Tschaikovsky. Elizabeth Lurie designed and embellished many of the costumes that transform the young dancers into princesses, princes, fairies, and other enchanting beings and, according to Copp, “Without Elizabeth Lurie, this ballet would be entirely different. She and the other dancers have all pitched in to transform this ballet into a truly magical event.”

City Center Ballet has contracted with three guest dancers for the 2014 production of The Sleeping Beauty. Justin Koertgen of Traverse City, Michigan will dance as Prince Désiré; Eric Carvill, from Kent, OH will dance as Bluebird; and William Moore of Abbeville, SC will dance the role of Puss and Boots.

Tickets are available now at the Lebanon Opera House (603-448-0400/LebanonOperaHouse.org) or through City Center Ballet (603-448-9710/CityCenterBallet.org).

The City Center Ballet is a non-profit, semi-professional ballet company that produces performances and educational opportunities for young, devoted dancers in the Upper Valley. Established in 1999, City Center Ballet is located in Lebanon, New Hampshire and produces classical and repertory ballets that enrich and delight audiences while providing challenging and diverse experiences for company members.