One of the most iconic classical ballets will be premiered to theatre-goers in Tbilisi for the first time in six decades, with dancers of the State Ballet of Georgia gearing up to present The Sleeping Beauty in the capital later this month. First premiered at Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre in 1890, the ballet went on to become a staple of classical repertoire for major theatres around the world.It will be staged at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre to mark 200 years since the birth of Marius Petipa, its choreographer and one of the famed names of classical dance. The production will come to the audience in a new redaction by Nina Ananiashvili, a celebrated international dancer and artistic director of the Georgian company, and Alexey Fadeechev, choreographer and Ananiashvili’s former partner on stage.

Glimpses from rehearsals for the work have been offered to social media followers through photographs and videos by the Tbilisi theatre as well as Italian baritone Andrea Zaupa. In Tbilisi for featuring in opera staging Turandot, the singer also attended studio rehearsals for the ballet premiere and created photo and video teasers on the preparations.

The Sleeping Beauty will be staged in its complete form at the Tbilisi theatre for the first time since the 1950s. Fragments of the ballet have been presented at the venue over the recent years, including for a 2017 occasion celebrating the 35th anniversary of Ananiashvili’s stage career. With scenography and costume design for the new redaction coming from Anatoly Nezhny, the premiere will also feature lighting design by Steen Bjarke.

Moscow State Academic Children’s Music Theatre conductor Alevtina Ioffe will lead the Tbilisi theatre’s orchestra for the performance. A premiere bill of six shows for The Sleeping Beauty will host dance enthusiasts at the Opera and Ballet State Theatre between April 27-May 20.