Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Step into a world of romance, wonder, and grandeur as Ballet Arizona kicks off its 2025-2026 season with “The Sleeping Beauty” Oct. 23 – 26 at Symphony Hall, with live musical accompaniment from The Phoenix Symphony.
Based on the original choreography by Marius Petipa with additional choreography by Ballet Arizona Artistic Director Daniela Cardim, “The Sleeping Beauty” will be her first full length production with the company.
Gleaming with vivid color and spilling over with fairies, princes and storybook charm, “The Sleeping Beauty” unfolds like a rose. Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, this celebrated classic will sweep you off your feet and cast a spell of delight.
“The Sleeping Beauty” is a mesmerizing treat with stunning costumes and dazzling sets that transport the audience to a magical kingdom. The enchanting story is brought to life by Princess Aurora, bewitched by the evil Carabosse and placed into a 100-year protective sleep by the Lilac Fairy, to be awakened only by true love’s kiss.
Rising talents Isabella Seo and Leticia Endler, who awed audiences as Odette/Odile in last year’s performance of “Swan Lake,” will also be dancing the principal role of Princess Aurora for the first time. Aurora’s love interest, Prince Desiré (Prince Charming), will be performed by audience-favorite dancers Helio Lima, Gabriel Wright, Ricardo Santos and Arizona native Ethan Price.
“It is a profound honor and joy to bring ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ to life with Ballet Arizona,” Ms. Cardim said in a prepared statement. “This ballet is a radiant celebration of hope, magic, and the transformative power of love. We have woven together tradition and fresh vision to create an experience that will enchant audiences of all ages, inviting every heart to dream and believe in fairy tales once more.”
“The Sleeping Beauty” will include the final on-stage performance of company dancer, Katelyn May Kirchhofer, who is set to retire after the concluding performance on Sun., Oct. 26 at 5:30 p.m. She will perform the role of Princess Aurora during her last performance with Ballet Arizona. Ms. Kirchhofer joined Ballet Arizona in 2021 and has had an incredible career performing soloist and principal roles in the Valley, as well as at Houston Ballet and The Sarasota Ballet of Florida.
“I have so many treasured memories from the last 18 years, many of which have come from being on stage with Ballet Arizona,” Ms. Kirchhofer said. “I will cherish what has been and I look forward to what is to come on the other side of the curtain.”
