The Sleeping Beauty in Australia

1940s: Aurora’s Wedding and variations from it are included in country touring by amateur and professional groups including The First Australia Ballet, based in Sydney and directed by Mischa Burlakov; the Polish-Australian Ballet; and later The Dancers Company, the touring arm of the Australian Ballet. Several Russian companies tour the ballet to cities and country towns.

1941: Helene Kirsova, star of the 1936 Ballets Russes tour, founds the Kirsova Ballet in Sydney. It is Australia’s first professional ballet company, and the Bluebird Pas de deux is part of its repertoire.

1944: The newly established Borovansky Australian Ballet includes the Bluebird Pas de deux among the divertissements in its program at the Theatre Royal Adelaide.

1947 – 49: Britain’s Ballet Rambert tours Australia, and the Bluebird Pas de deux (danced by John Gilpin and Belinda Wright) is in its repertoire.

1949: The National Theatre Ballet Company produces Australia’s first genuine Aurora’s Wedding, stunningly designed by Kenneth Rowell, with Joyce Graeme and Rex Reid in the leading roles. It premieres at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre.

1951: Edouard Borovansky brings The Sleeping Beauty fully awake. Like Diaghilev of the Ballets Russes, he rechristens her The Sleeping Princess. Designer William Constable excels himself, and the ballet premieres at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre. The leading roles are danced by Peggy Sager and Miro Zloch (who also reproduces the choreography). The production becomes a staple of the Borovansky’s repertoire on its Australian and New Zealand tours.

1957: On her first Australian visit Margot Fonteyn leads Borovansky’s company in Aurora’s Wedding at the Empire Theatre in Sydney, with Michael Somes, her frequent partner at The Royal Ballet, as the Prince.

1958: Victorian Ballet Guild includes the Bluebird Pas de deux in its Autumn season at Melbourne’s Little Theatre.

1959: The 19-year-old Marilyn Jones, partnered by Garth Welch, makes her debut as Aurora for the Borovansky in Algeranoff’s revised version. Both would go on to be stars of The Australian Ballet.

2002: Queensland Ballet’s new production of The Sleeping Beauty by François Klaus premieres at the Brisbane’s QPAC Playhouse on 13 March. The cast is led by Rachael Walsh and Jens Weber.

2005: Stanton Welch’s new production of The Sleeping Beauty for The Australian Ballet premieres at the Victorian Arts Centre. It is designed by Kristian Fredrikson – his last commission before his death. Lucinda Dunn dances Aurora, with Damien Welch, the choreographer’s brother, as her Prince.

2010: West Australian Ballet brings Marcia Haydée from the Stuttgart Ballet to direct her famous 1987 production of The Sleeping Beauty, the company’s biggest presentation to date. The cast of over 80 is led by Yu Takayama and Sergey Pevnev in Perth’s Burswood Theatre.

2015: David McAllister’s new production of The Sleeping Beauty for The Australian Ballet, with luxurious designs by Gabriela Tylesova, premieres on 15 September at Art Centre Melbourne.

2015: 
In tandem with his 2015 production, David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty was adapted into the child-friendly Storytime Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty. Running at under an hour and with a narrator to help guide the younger audiences, Storytime Ballet has become a cherished tradition since its inaugural 2015 season, and now includes Cinderella, Coppélia and The Nutcracker. 

2017/18: David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty delights audiences with a return season to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

2025: 10 years after its premiere, The Australian Ballet present David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, bringing the magic of the fairy tale across the country once more.