First planning cast,the role of Aurora,this day was Kazue Yasmura,but very unfortunately she was injured and we were known the new cast,Viviana Durante in the hall first.I was surprised at each of them but Durante showed us her best marvelous Aurora!! Her first entrance,the birthday of Princess Aurora at Act 1,was so brilliant as if all of lighting and music were gathered on her at that moment , she was brightened herself by the all of audience's expectation and her own joy to dance Princess Aurora. How happily and how twinkled she was!!
Though I had seen her Aurora in Kumakawa's production through the 2002 tour,this time I was moved more than ever by herself. Her steps were a blooming life itself and she wrapped the audience with her elegance and full of kindhearted.

She has all of the gifts from the fairies, the Coulante, the Violente, the Candide, the Breadcrumb,and the Canary.Especially, on the scene of rose adagio, she has been keeping the balance during almost 10 seconds...we were taken our breath away at all, it was not only by her amazing techic, but because at the moment we could feel like an angel falling down to herself. Durante's Princess Aurora has been the best of Aurora in the world,I'm sure exactly just now,too.God blessed her with the very inside her own "sleeping beauty".

In Kumakawa's production,the music of prologue has a very important meaning.As you know, "The Sleeping Beauty" starts with a powerful and ominous melody. Kumakawa found a short story in that melody as a prologue and that way has influenced his other productions,too. Opened the curtain, first we could see Caraboss's rage by his follower's message. Carabosse wasn't invited baptism of Aurora so he(she) decided to take his revenge on the baby by a needle and thread.

So,we could see Dowell's Caraboss from the beginning of the story. He performed this role so passionately even more than I had imagined. I had seen his Caraboss only by a video of Royal Ballet,so I had imagined a cold, neuter gender existence. But his Caraboss was more flexible, had various many expressions and very understandable mimes. Like being grabbed our hearts by his that long nails, we were so easy to understand the story and never looked away from him and the classical story ballet.

Peter Famer's set and costume design made greatly beautiful, romantic scenery. I like the world of Mr.Farmer as same as Ms.Yolanda Sonnabend(Swan Lake,The Nutcracker) though they are very different, especially Peter Farmer's delicate sensibility for colors, so exquisite and transparent pureness of fantasies. I think his touch of delicacy exactly a mixture of watercolor paints and oil paints, somehow I can feel something like Japanese black and white painting connected by his transparent colors.

Kumakawa's Prince Florimund appeared wearing a red gown with a story presented by Rudolf Nureyev. A lot of choreography and music at Act2 was changed from the 2002 tour. Kumakawa added his moderate solo and an illusion of Aurora's solo more and cut the exaggerated his attendant's behavior. Through the 2002 tour,a play of bandage was performed by Prince himself, but this time performed by Price's tutor,Errol Pickford politely!!

There were five former principals of the Royal Ballet this night, Sir Anthony Dowell,Viviana Durante,Tetsuya Kumakawa, Stuart Cassidy and Errol Pickford. So gorgeous and bonds of Royal family, I was happy as one of the audience to see such a fantastic show and fate of encounter.

Of course, K Ballet dancers also showed us fine performance. The Lilac Fairy, Rie Matsuoka performed her role firmly attitude,and warm heartfelt mimes impressed us deeply. She never shrink from Carboss, invited Prince Florimund a sleeping forest and gave him a saber to knock down Caraboss. In Kumakawa's production,Prince Florimund by himself gave a finishing stroke, he had a strong heart and heroic power as a human with an elegance, too. At Act 1 five fairies danced well. Soi,Higashino,Kambe,Nagata,Nakahira all of them picked the tones changing to steps and movements. Kambe and Soi danced as the jewels at Act3,too.The Ruby and the Sappire were new costume, white and red or violet,and they danced livingly at each of solo.Takuya Wajima,now he is soloist,danced the Gold. He was very making remarkable progress during the shows, very good performance. And Stuart Cassidy's The Blue Bird was flying on the stage, he brought a fresh air to the hall and wrapped The Princess Florine,Kayo Nagata warmingly with his wings.Nagata also danced brilliantly,her legs and arms eloquent and fluently moved, she was listening to the song of Blue Bird,they were communicating very well as a pas de duex,so they caught the audience's hearts instantly.

Final grand pas deux of Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund was delightful to see.Durante and Kumakawa influenced each other.Concentrating every moments, I was remembering a pure happiness to see ballet. My inside of "sleeping beauty", a heart that can think something beautiful occurred again.I think I never forget that night.

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Tetsuya Kumakawa K-BALLET COMPANY "The Sleeping Beauty"
10th.March.2006 Tokyo International Forum

Princess Aurora Viviana Durante
*Because of an injury the cast changed from Kazue Yasumura to Viviana Durante
Prince Florimund Tetsuya Kumakawa
Caraboss Sir Anthony Dowell
The Lilac Fairy Rie Matsuoka
King Florestan XXIV Gavin Fitzpatrik
His Queen Yuko Amano
Catalabutte Lorian Slaughter
(Prince's tutor Errol Pickford)

The Coulante Satomi Soi
The Violente Yasuko Higashino
The Candide Kayo Nagata
The Breadcrumb Rina Kambe
The Canary Ayako Nakahira
(Four Princes: Stuart Cassidy/Nozomu Haga/Carlos Martin/Takuya Wajima)

The Jewels(Act3)
The Ruby Rina Kambe
The Sappire Satomi Soi
The Gold Takuya Wajima

The White Cat Ayako Nakahira
Puss-in-Boots Yoshiaki Kobayashi

The Princess Florine Kayo Nagata
The Bule Bird Stuart Cassidy

Red Riding Hood Kinue Kobayashi
The Wolf Shuntaro Miyao

K-BALLET COMPANY
Pages K-BALLET SCHOOL

Artistic Director Tetsuya Kumakawa
Set and costume design Peter Farmer

Music Director/Conductor Shogo Isobe
K-BALLET THEATER ORCHESTRA

Prologue/Act1 60minutes <interval 20minutes> Act2 30minutes <interval 20minutes> Act3 45minutes
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However, I would like to tell the show of Viviana Durante and Carlos Martin at the next day,too.It was the real debut for Martin to perform Prince Florimund and the title role of full length ballet. He was so ellegant and full of grace. His slender body and his existence told a lot of melancholic prince's heart.I thought he could dance various roles,many styles from classical to modern. I think he is also a very hopeful dancer.

Anyway,I would like to thank you so much for Sir Anthony Dowell and Viviana Durante,of course all of members.
I hope there are more precious encounters from now on,too.

sincerely, with respect and love

Satoko Kamatani

*edited spelling and tense.

I read your review with the greatest pleasure and interest, and shall not forget your whole-hearted enthusiasm.