"This is even a step above Swan Lake when it comes to pure, classical ballet," says Minnesota Ballet Artistic Executive Director Karl von Rabenau. "It doesn't get any more classical than Sleeping Beauty." The Tchaikovsky masterpiece is being performed this weekend at the Marshall Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth.
For all of the ballet's fame, Sleeping Beauty was not successful at first. It wasn't until the second or third production that the show caught on. Now, in 2026, interest in the work persists, and a similar persistence in required of the performers. "There is definitely a thought process that goes into making sure that [the dancers] stay healthy throughout this process," says von Rabenau. Although the title character of Aurora is a monumentally demanding role, there's a male role that has garnered a notorious reputation. "It is six and a half minutes of partnering, lifting, and jumping... it's so demanding."
Performances for Sleeping Beauty are this Friday, March 13th at 7pm, and at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. A one-hour sensory friendly performance begins at 11am on Saturday. Tickets and more information can be found by visiting the Minnesota Ballet website.
You can hear Community Connection every Tuesday and Thursday at 8am on Northland Morning.
