Sleeping Beauty in September

Published August 27, 2026

Sleeping Beauty in September

In September, A.V.A. Ballet Theatre and the Reno Phil will be presenting Sleeping Beauty at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Rechoreographed by artistic director Alexander Van Alstyne, this classic fairytale is filled with mesmerizing dance, romance, and is fun for the entire family.

In Van Alstyne’s ballet, it begins in the grand palace of King Florestan XIV where the christening of his daughter, Princess Aurora, is being celebrated. The Lilac Fairy and Good Fairies appear among the courtiers and the guests gathered to congratulate the princess. They bring the newborn infant gifts, endowing her with the finest human qualities. Suddenly, a tremendous noise is heard. The wicked and powerful Carabosse Fairy enters the ballroom with her repulsive crows. They had forgotten to invite her to the christening. An irate Carabosse predicts that Aurora will die young from pricking her finger with a knitting spindle.

Carabosse is being performed by Eve Allen Garza. She received her MFA in ballet from the University of Utah and B.S. in business administration with a dance minor from the University of Nevada, Reno. Allen Garza is a ballet teaching associate professor for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is also the ballet mistress for A.V.A. Ballet Theatre and has performed with the company since she was a child.

The Lilac Fairy intervenes and she predicts that the forces of good will neutralize the sinister spell and she forces Carabosse to leave the palace. The Lilac Fairy is being danced by Anisa Sinteral. Sinteral is from Parker, Colorado. She joined Ballet West II in 2014 and was promoted to the main company in 2015, until she departed in 2019. Anisa rejoined Ballet West in 2021 and was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2025.

When the first act opens, it is Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday party. Aurora is being performed by Lexi McCloud. McCloud is from North Salt Lake, Utah. She joined Ballet West II in 2022. McCloud joined Ballet West in 2024, was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2025 and Soloist in 2026.

Four foreign princes have come to ask for Aurora’s hand in marriage. The princes include David Huffmire and Marco Micov. Huffmire joined Ballet West’s first company and worked his way through the ranks as an apprentice, a new artist, and has been a member of the corps de ballet for the last four years; first as a soloist and now a principal. Micov joined Milwaukee Ballet Company for the 2019/20 Season and continues to dance with the company.

At the height of the festivities, an old woman with a knitting spindle appears at the princess’ side. Trustful Aurora takes the spindle and begins dancing. Suddenly, she stops dancing and looks with horror at her finger which she has accidentally pricked with the spindle. Overcome by a deadly spell, Aurora falls to the floor. The mysterious old woman throws off her hood — and reveals that she is the Carabosse Fairy. Her evil curse has come to pass.

The Lilac Fairy appears on the scene — she has the power to lessen the evil spell. Aurora is not dead — she has fallen asleep. She will only be brought back to life by the ardent kiss of a handsome prince. Yes, nowadays the kiss of a handsome prince can be controversial, but in this ballet, there will be a kiss. Some fairytales just can’t be changed. At this point in the ballet, the Lilac Fairy plunges the entire kingdom into a deep sleep.

The Lilac Fairy appears before the handsome Prince Desire — Huffmire. She summons up a vision of Princess Aurora, surrounded by divine beings — the Nereids. The enchanted Prince hurries after the beautiful image but at the wave of the Lilac Fairy’s wand it vanishes. Prince Desire begs her to search for the beautiful maiden. The Lilac Fairy invites the Prince to sail in her magic craft to the bewitched castle.

Gloom and despair reign the sleeping kingdom. It is fortified by the malevolent Carabosse Fairy. The Lilac Fairy and Prince Desire rapidly approach the castle. The wicked old woman and her crows try to conceal Aurora but, in vain —the prince catches sight of the sleeping beauty. Won over by her charm, the prince tenderly kisses the princess — and the evil curse is broken. Carabosse and her crows vanish.

Aurora wakes up and the royal kingdom comes back to life. Prince Desire asks the King and Queen for their daughter Aurora’s hand in marriage. Fairytale characters come to Aurora and Desire’s wedding: the Bluebirds, the White Cat and Puss in Boots, the Big Bad Wolf, Precious Stones, and Little Red Riding Hood.

Partnering with Marco Micov as the Bluebirds is Marize Fumero. Fumero dances for Milwaukee Ballet. This is their third visit to Reno this year; they performed in A.V.A. Ballet Theatre’s production of Swan Lake and the rock ballet Vortex during Artown.

The Prince and Princess dance in a symphonic pas de deux and the Lilac Fairy blesses the happy couple. This is the part where everyone lives happily ever after.

The Reno Phil will be performing the score to this beautiful ballet with Laura Jackson as the conductor. The Tchaikovsky music alone is worth the ticket price. Join me at the Pioneer stage as we celebrate a full classical ballet with an orchestra at the Pioneer.

Steve Trounday is a board member at A.V.A. Ballet Theatre, the resident ballet company of the Pioneer Center. A.V.A. Ballet Theatre will be performing Sleeping Beauty September 19 and 20 at the Pioneer Center with the Reno Phil.