The Sleeping Beauty

The rendition of Tchaikovsky’s ballet by Chiara Ajkun performed by the Ajkun Ballet Theatre is offered in August 2023 by The Face To Face and the Theater Experience in partnership with SecretNYC and is completed by an after show meet-and-greet the dancers. Chiara Ajkun is an Italian American choreographer, formerly a principal ballet dancer, and the artistic director of the Ajkun Ballet Theatre. Chiara ’s rendering of timeless classics are one act versions reenergizing iconic ballets into more dynamic works with centerstage the richness of the choreography, the fascinating music, and the elegant lines of the dancers. The ballet premiered in 1890 at the Mariinksy Theater with a strong French flavor, choreographed by Petipa to music by Tchaikovsky. In the world of fairies and illuminating vignettes borrowed from other tales, Princess Aurora is cursed to sleep by the malevolent Carabosse (AKA Maleficent) and awakened after 100 years by the pure love of Prince Désiré.