At last! A classical ballet that sits prettily and confidently at ease with itself in the great round arena of the Waterfront Hall, a space in which, in the past, both contemporary and classical dance have frequently struggled to work their wonder and magic. But the first glimpse of this beautifully staged work by the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre hints strongly that delicious treats are in store. And so it comes to pass. Rarely has such spectacle demanded and consumed the attention and held the audience spellbound for something approaching three hours of sublime orchestral music and engaging, expressive performance.
In its light touch, its fabulous set and costumes and its choreography by Petipa and Sergeev, this lavish production pays tribute to the traditional and the modern. In spirit, it harks back to the heady days of pre-revolutionary France, from which Russian ballet sprang. The action takes place in the leafy gardens and opulent interiors of a splendid chateau, with scenes evoking strains of Fragonard paintings and Chopin nocturnes. The formal set pieces work in smoothly with the earthy vibrancy of the colourful folk dances, propelling on the familiar storyline of the princess doomed to die by an evil sorceress, when she pricks her finger on that most fragrant of flowers, a red rose. The clash of good and evil is dramatically evoked by Natalia Ryzhakova's Fairy of Goodness and Light and Dymchik Saykeev's whirling dervish-like Carabosse.
And at the still point of the turning tale is Irina Kolesnikova's delightful Princess Aurora: arch, coltish and utterly beguiling. She is quicksilver and mercury, achieving in her effortless dancing laser-sharp precision and dreamy, seductive languor, as the passage demands. She is extremely well partnered by the Prince Florimund of young Yuri Glukhikh, like his colleagues, another gifted graduate of the famous Vaganova Choreographic Institute. The company orchestra, conducted by Alexandr Kantorov, wrests every ounce of emotion from Tchaikovsky's glorious score, making this a rare Christmas treat.
The Sleeping Beauty is at the Waterfront Hall until January 6th. Bookings on Belfast 334455.