3 Dec - 12 Dec 2026

The Sleeping Beauty

$40.00 - $195.00

Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre

Dance
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The Sleeping Beauty

Royal New Zealand Ballet

To celebrate the summer, the much-loved Royal New Zealand Ballet production from 2011 returns: Greg Horsman’s fairytale version of The Sleeping Beauty.

The age-old story of the princess who pricks her finger and falls into an enchanted sleep, only to be wakened by true love, is brought to life in picture-perfect designs by Gary Harris, classical choreography and Tchaikovsky’s magical music. A touch of wizardry from Wellington’s Wētā Workshop adds to the joy and wonder, making this the perfect pre-Christmas treat for audiences of all ages.

2011 saw the premiere of this glorious production, with the making of the ballet immortalised, reality television-style, in the second series of The Secret Lives of Dancers. More than 42,000 people saw the production around New Zealand. Choreographer Greg Horsman left the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2012 to take up a new role at Queensland Ballet, and this production has now been staged there several times to great acclaim.

Sat 5 Dec, 1.30pm: Audio Described Performance

These performances will give blind and vision impaired patrons the opportunity to attend a performance with a trained audio describer broadcasting commentary which patrons will hear through an earpiece.

A free Touch Tour and an introduction to ballet terminology will be held before the show. Touch set pieces, feel costumes, handle key props and learn about the various ballet terms and the shapes and quality of the movements from the ballet.

Bookings essential, visit Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Sat 5 Dec, 1.30pm: Q&A Session

Dancers and artistic staff answer any questions you may have following the performance.

Free admission – simply remain in your seats after the show. Lasts approximately 10-15 min.

Sat 5 Dec, 7.30pm: Warm Up, Curtain Up!

Watch from the auditorium as the RNZB dancers warm up on stage in preparation for their evening performance.

Free admission – no show ticket or registration required. Arrive in the venue foyer 10 minutes prior to the event’s start time.

Royal New Zealand Ballet

On at

Aotea Centre | Aotea – Te Pokapū

50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland

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