Sleeping Beauty the Ballet

As my theme for the Alice in Wonderland project is ballet i thought it would be a good idea to at least go and see one live so that I could see first hand and up close how the costumes not only look but how they move and what new shapes and silhouettes does this create and make and what effect does it have on the audience ect. So I was lucky that there was one coming to Sunderland which is not to far from where I lived at it was Birmingham's royal ballet Sleeping Beauty.

The Ballet took place at Sunderland's Empire Theater one i had not visited until going to watch the ballet. Just like you would suspect from any other theater it was beautiful and even more spectacular inside!! High ceiling, all of the seating areas and booths were done in golds and reds you did really feel as if you were somewhere else completely different.

It is truly a breathtaking building which helps bring the ballet to life as you already feel like your part of something grand when you take your seat. Like i said before I had never been to see a live ballet before and when I think of what I expect of it, I always think back to an older time when it was something to entertain lords and ladies and it makes you feel special and it is great to be part of a long standing traditional dance as the times have changed.

For someone that does not 'do' set and staging for part of my course I was absolutely fascinated and blown away with the transformation of the stage and how it was set up so beautifully. Everything seemed to have been thought of and right down to the very last detail, although I wasnt sitting right at the front I could see how exquisite the colours and fabric looked, fit for a princess!!

Now I'll be honest the main reason that I went to see a ballet was of course to look at the costumes so that I could get an idea of silhouette and see how each piece moves and complimented the dancers as the moved and then when they were static. But I did not expect to see such theatrical costumes, each seemed to be so delicate that if they were my own I would have been frightened to move in them let alone dance around a stage so beautifully and with so much poise and elegance which again compliment both dancer and costume.They all seemed to have their own little x factor that could be seen right to the back of the theater and everything sparkled and twinkled!!! I noticed a lot of small young girls attending and could see their faces light up as they watched a real life ballerina in these amazing costumes everybody seemed blown away with what they were watching and no ones eye left the stage!!! I would have loved to have been able to get up and close with the costumes to be the nerd that I am and inspect the fabric and get a closer look at all of the detail and embroidery which was fabulous at a distance!!

 At first as I took my seat I did have the slight thought of 'oh god, will I like this? or be bored stiff?' but as soon as the dancers got on stage I did not have another thought as I was watching the story been told through dance, at once I maybe thought it wouldnt be possible, that I wouldnt know what was going on. But I managed to keep up it was amazing as Id never seen anything like it, I was blown away and in awe of the talent and strength of the people on stage!! It really was something to see and before I knew it, it was the first interval the time flew over. The moves and shapes and different silhouettes that were created by each person was amazing there clearly was ALOT of time and effort gone into the whole production and it clearly showed as nothing seemed out of place or to go wrong at all.

I think the thing that really topped it off for me was the live orchestra, you could literally feel the music vibrate through you helping the dancers in tell the story. The sound was amazing and the way that everything seemed to come together as a whole was great, the fact that everything complimented each other and there was a clear style throughout!! After watching Sleeping Beauty (a story that I already know and love) I think I would now be keen to go an watch another, perhaps a story that I hadnt heard of to see how it is brought to life in a different adaption to which I am used to. Overall it was a great experience going to watch the ballet and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and I definitely felt inspired to start on my own ballet dress for my project!

It is clear throughout which images are my own and the professional ones which I took from Birmingham Royal Ballet website as my own do not do it Justice, the link belong takes you to that website!!

http://www.brb.org.uk/masque/index.htm?act=production&urn=120