Milwaukee Ballet

This production marks the company’s first performance of the classic in over 15 years, featuring notable updates to choreography, sets, costumes, and music arrangement by Artistic Director Michael Pink.

Originally choreographed by the renowned Marius Petipa, “Sleeping Beauty” stands as one of the most famous and challenging ballets in the classical canon. 

The Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra will bring Tchaikovsky’s iconic score to life at each performance, evoking familiar passages that Disney fans may recognize from the animated adaptation.

The principal role of Aurora will be performed by alternating casts, featuring Leading Artist Marie Harrison-Collins, known for her titular role in last spring’s “Cinderella,” and Guest Artist Jennifer Hackbarth, a Leading Artist at Sarasota Ballet. 

Hackbarth’s appearance marks a full-circle moment, as she returns to her hometown after training at Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy.

The production also provides a unique opportunity for students from Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy to perform alongside the company, contributing to their development as dancers.

“Sleeping Beauty” promises to be a magical experience for both newcomers and longtime ballet enthusiasts. With its updated choreography and production elements, even those who have seen previous performances will find something new to appreciate in this timeless tale of romance and rescue.

Tickets for “Sleeping Beauty” are now on sale. In addition to “Sleeping Beauty,” Milwaukee Ballet will present “Carmen” later in the season, a gritty tale of smoldering intensity and fierce independence set to Georges Bizet’s iconic score.

For more information about the performance, community events, or to purchase tickets, visit milwaukeeballet.org/Sleeping-Beauty or call the Milwaukee Ballet Box Office at (414) 902-2103.

 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement plays a crucial role in Milwaukee Ballet’s mission. For “Sleeping Beauty,” the company has the following events:

March 4-April 1  Themed Storytimes 
The company has partnered with nearly a dozen local libraries to host themed storytimes led by their Community Engagement Department and Second Company dancers. 

March 21, 10:30am-3:20pm  “Sleeping Beauty”-Themed Blood Drive 
Additionally, a partnership with Versiti Blood Center brings a “Sleeping Beauty”-themed blood drive to the Baumgartner Center for Dance, with donors receiving a buy-one-get-one-free voucher for a performance.

About Milwaukee Ballet
Milwaukee Ballet, founded in 1970, has been a cornerstone of the city’s arts scene for over five decades. 

The company performs an average of 45 shows annually, attracting over 50,000 attendees. Its affiliated school, the Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy, is the only dance school in the Midwest accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance.

Michael Pink, the current Artistic Director, continues to innovate and expand the company’s repertoire. Under his leadership, Milwaukee Ballet produces at least one world premiere each year.