Coastal City Ballet returns to Surrey this week with a version of “The Sleeping Beauty” starring Surrey-area talent.
The Vancouver-based company brings the fairy-tale story to Surrey Arts Centre for a single-night staging Friday, June 9 starting at 7 p.m.
In the spotlight as Princess Aurora is Alice Guillot, 25, who moved here from Europe a couple years ago and now lives on the Newton/Cloverdale border.
“I’m originally from France,” Guillot explained in a phone call. “I danced there until I was 18 and then moved to the U.K. to train in London, and graduated there. But then COVID happened and I went back to France.”
In 2021 she flew to Vancouver to join Coastal City Ballet, a “pre-professional” company established a decade earlier to give post-secondary-aged dancers training, performance and mentorship opportunities to prepare for careers in dance.
“This is my third season with them,” Guillot said. “I was looking for program like this, something between professional and students. I knew someone there and decided to apply, and here I am.”
Guillot was Cinderella in a full-length production at Vancouver Playhouse last May.
This spring “The Sleeping Beauty” first played Vancouver Playhouse on May 23, and Guillot danced in minor roles.
With a second cast in Surrey, she’ll star in a show featuring close to 50 dancers who move to Tchaikovsky’s famous music.
“It’s pretty similar to the Disney movie that everyone knows and loves,” Guillot said.
The plot: When the maleficent Carabosse lays a curse on the newborn Princess Aurora, only the power of love can break the evil spell that has cast Aurora into a century-long slumber. The production features familiar characters including Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Puss in Boots, White Cat and Blue Bird.
On the Main Stage at Surrey Arts Centre, “The Sleeping Beauty” seats are $52.95 on tickets.surrey.ca, or $42.95 for students/seniors. Call 604-501-5566 for details.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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