Recreating the greatest ballet of them all

The Sleeping Beauty was always Joan Denise Moriarty’s favourite show. As Cork City Ballet prepare to produce it in November, Jo Kerrigan talks to Alan Foley about its particular magic

THIS has been the centenary year of one of the most iconic figures of ballet in Ireland — Joan Denise Moriarty. As a final tribute to the first lady of dance, Cork City Ballet will present a full-scale production of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty at both Cork Opera House and Wexford Opera House in November.

Perfectly timed to open the festive season, it will attempt to recreate all the magic and enchantment of a fairytale world, where castles are hidden for a hundred years, and princesses awaken to the love of a handsome prince. Yury Demakov of the Bolshoi is recreating Marius Pepita’s original choreography, Elena Evseeva, star of the Kirov Ballet in St Petersburg, will dance the lead.