Last season, I approached our own Travis Bradley about the idea of a new but still classically based Sleeping Beauty ballet. The reinterpretation was a risk, I knew, but the project was put into good hands, given to a young man of great sensitivity and depth. As I had hoped, Travis dove into the
project with seriousness and rigorous thought, committed to exploring concepts, people’s natures, and how a story can help us express both of these notions.
Travis was soon on his way, conducting his own storyline research, its historical interpretations and present-day applications. One of his first decisions was that the Prince and Sleeping Beauty, or Briar Rose, would grow up together, so there is a relationship that moves from childhood friendship into admiration, to a new bonding, and finally to an everlasting love. In our retelling, Carabosse, traditionally the Wicked Fairy, is a Rose Fairy of fiery passion and intense desire. When Carabosse surrenders to the Briars, she succumbs to being strangled by desire, by an imbalance of passion. At the end of the story, the Briars and Carabosse are not simply defeated by the Prince’s strength, but also because Briar Rose has touched Carabosse by offering her another vision of beauty without a burning desire to consume. When Carabosse surrenders to the call of beauty’s love and kindness, she is redeemed and forgiven for the havoc she has caused.
Another interesting storyline element is in making the Prince also the Gardener. This idea makes great sense to those of us raised in our American democracy, and it reminds us that the true “princes” in life are not defined simply by wealth, power, birth or status. Instead, they reside in those whose characters are most elegant, those who can rise above accumulation for self-gratification. Our Prince is strong enough to give to others, to celebrate beauty without grasping, and to honor, to release, to draw joy from and give love to.
When Ballet Memphis examines a traditional story in new ways, we strive to grasp the narrative’s original value and meaning, and then hold that in a sacred trust in the act of creation. If this act of care does not happen, we run the risk of presenting yet another empty spectacle. Travis, however, poured his heart into a work of great care and beauty. There is a fullness here in our new telling of Sleeping Beauty, a story replete with faith in our better human natures.
Because nobility exists in pouring one’s heart into his or her life’s work, Ballet Memphis believes strongly in mentoring and nurturing our professional dancers, our young choreographers and our students. We are determined to be thoughtful, and act in meaningful, hopeful ways. Just like a gardener, we hope to create a flourishing culture of beauty and kindness in our city and in our nation.
