Led by former Bolshoi Ballet principal Dancer-turned-artistic director Sergei Radchenko, the Moscow Festival Ballet formed in 1989 and has since gone on to gain world-wide acclaim for their performances of traditional; ballet classics in the celebrated Russian classical school style.

Now they invite you to escape into the enchanting storybook world of Sleeping Beauty, known as the finest achievement in classical ballet. A lavish, glittering and opulent production, the company expertly present the beauty of traditional ballet and mime in this timeless fairytale, to the majesty of Tchaikovsky's swelling waltzes and delicate movements.

As one of the best trained companies in the world, the Moscow Festival Ballet rare sure to present a version that compliments this masterpiece wonderfully.

Once upon a time

On the day of her grand christening, the Princess Aurora is admired by all in the kingdom, including a cast of fairies, ready to imbue her with the virtues she'll need in life. But one fairy is left off the guest list- the evil fairy! Furious, she bursts into the hall and curses baby Aurora, wishing her to die upon her 16th birthday, after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel. But all is not lost, the strong Lilac fairy, while not able to undo the curse, can adapt it, and instead Aurora will sleep...for 100 years...

When the time comes, the Lilac fairy bewitches the whole realm into sleep, joining Aurora in her sentence, as vines and trees grow up around the palace, hiding it from view. Finally, Aurora's saviour, Prince Desire arrives and plants on her true love's kiss, waking the Princess and kingdom just in time for a jubilant and triumphant wedding ceremony!