SLEEPING BEAUTY ACT III (Royal Ballet w/ Fonteyn, Sibley, Blair, Shaw)

This is my personal favorite version. Tempi are absolutely correct and everyone dances up a storm. Turn-out, extensions, and “tricks“ may be better today, but at the sacrifice of style, musicality, and charm. Margot Fonteyn was in her mid-forties here but still takes chances and dances faster than most all of today’s ballerinas. David Blair is the “Prince“ (and the only one not quite up to today’s standards but a great partner) Antoinette Sibley and Brian Shaw are excellent as “Princess Florine and the “Bluebird“ and the “Pas de Trois“ is Merle Park, Georgina Parkinson, and Graham all-star cast.