Performing the title role of Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty is a mammoth one. It commands as much stamina as a three-hour marathon and the graceful disposition to pass for a royal princess. It’s a heady balance of skill that can only be achieved by few. In 2005, when Stanton Welch was commissioned to restage the classic The Sleeping Beauty, he choreographed the leading role of Aurora on Principal Lucinda Dunn . In the 19 years that Lucinda has been with The Australian Ballet she admits that no other role has been more demanding, or rewarding.
“The Sleeping Beauty is one of the most challenging ballets I’ve ever done, and probably will ever do. It’s technically and physically demanding and what you have to do in a tutu is simply hard. Any ballerina will tell you that it’s just so challenging; it’s really hard on your body stamina-wise – it’s three acts! You’re in a tutu so you are very exposed and your classical technique is on show. The lines and the shapes have to be just right and then there’s your characterisation on top of that … It’s a combination of things but basically it’s just a really big, scary ballet.”
Lucinda might feel like The Sleeping Beauty is a ‘big, scary ballet’ but her performance is seemingly effortless. In 2005 The Age described Lucinda’s Aurora as: “adolescent in her characterisation and in unstressed command of the fiendish balances and other tricks demanded by the title role”
The Sleeping Beauty runs in Melbourne from 9 – 19 September, and from Sydney 4 – 23 December
Why doesn’t it come to Adelaide???
Hi Marilyn,
We began our 2009 performance year in Adelaide with the world premiere of Graeme Murphy’s Firebird, and the company is looking forward to returning to Adelaide soon. Stay tuned for the announcement of our full 2010 season next week! Best, Kate