Texas Ballet Theater continues its run of Tchaikovsky ballets with season-opening performances of Sleeping Beauty this weekend in Bass Performance Hall.
The sparkling production was designed by Tony Award-winning Desmond Heeley, who created it for the Houston Ballet under TBT’s current artistic director, Ben Stevenson. It was last seen here in 2010. Stevenson first choreographed the ballet in 1967 for the English National Ballet with Margot Fonteyn in the title role.
Leticia Oliveira will dance Princess Aurora on opening night. One of the company’s strongest dancers, she missed much of last season with a leg injury. Prince Florimund will be Carl Coomer, Oliveira’s real-life husband. They will repeat their performances in the Sunday matinee. Carolyn Judson and newcomer Jiyan Dai will dance the principal roles Saturday night. Betsy McBride and Alexander Kotelenets will perform the prince and princess in the Saturday matinee.
The Fort Worth Symphony will accompany the dancers under the baton of guest conductor Michael Moricz, who had a successful debut here leading the musicians in Swan Lake. This marks only the second time in five years that TBT has had the money to engage the orchestra, a great step forward for everyone involved. — Leonard Eureka
[box_info]Sleeping Beauty runs Fri-Sun at Bass Performance Hall, 555 Commerce St, FW. Tickets are $15-190. Call 877-828-9200.[/box_info]
