For an all-ages night on the town, the Chester Fritz Auditorium was the place to be Friday night.

Set to a colorful garden backdrop and original songs by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the North Dakota Ballet Company performed its rendition of the classic ballet Sleeping Beauty.

Originally written as a three act ballet, it was the final act that came to life on the stage of the Chester Fritz. Picking up after the Sleeping Beauty story we know from Disney, the third act is a performance depicting the grand wedding of the sleeping beauty herself, Aurora, to her prince.

In an interesting twist, well-known characters from outside the world of Sleeping Beauty are present at the wedding ceremony. Several musical numbers showcasing the likes of Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots and more worked together to intertwine classic fairy tales.

A notable group of attendees were Cinderella and her stepsisters, dancers acting out a comical struggle for attention, all while moving gracefully across the stage in a carefully choreographed scene.

All ages and skill levels were showcased on stage from the beginners in their first pairs of ballet shoes, to the seasoned dancers flowing effortlessly en pointe. The mixture of age and talent gave the show its character.

This rendition of the ballet was choreographed by Emily Grizzell and Chalnessa Eames of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, brought in as guests of the North Dakota Ballet Company.

Dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet also  joined the company for the night, featured as Aurora and the prince. Julia Jones Whitehead and Ryan Vetter, respectively, were the final dancers in the wedding scene, with two couple dances and a solo each. The crowd was dazzled as the pair made every intricate move with elegance and precision that made it look easy. The chemistry between the two dancers made the performance all the more charming.

The closing scene filled the stage with all of the dancers involved in the show. A colorful array of costumes gave the audience their final glimpse into the world of Sleeping Beauty, and a standing ovation confirmed the success of the evening’s production.

Serianna Henkel is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected].