Former artistic director Gary Harris has gone all out with his designs for this ambitious new production of the most romantic of all the fairytale ballets, with its feast of virtuoso dance.
Huge sets create a soaring vertical space, courtiers' costumes are lush and velvety in a jewel box of medieval colour, the five pastel fairies are a gauzy dream, woodland nymphs flitter through the forest, and handsome princes abound.
A spectacular Weta Workshop dragon breathes fire and fury in its defence of Carabosse, the wicked Black Fairy. Guest artist Stella Abrera, a soloist with American Ballet Theatre where the RNZB's new artistic director Ethan Stiefel was a principal dancer, is an exquisite Princess Aurora on Auckland's opening night, with spell-binding perfection of technique.
She is well matched by the bravura specialist, Sergio Torrado, as Prince Desire in the first cast. Spanish-born Torrado is a new addition to the company ranks, and a former principal with Pennsylvania Ballet.
But all is not well with this Sleeping Beauty. The vital elements are there for a spectacular performance, but the magic never quite ignites.
