Seville is, among many things, flamenco. And ‘pringás’. And Triana. But it is also ballet, a lot of ballet. And if not, just tell it to the Professional Dance Conservatory Antonio Ruiz Soler, to the Sevillian María Fernández who was a soloist of the National Ballet of Spain, or to pioneering academies such as Pas de Deux. Examples that move with pirouettes to which is added an original show of light and dance that has brought the magic of the stories and the elegance of classical dance to the Cartuja Auditorium in Seville: “Ballet of Lights”.
What is Ballet of Lights?
A luminous journey on pointe to Neverland. Or to the Kingdom of Aurora. Or to that faraway country Cinderella was talking about. “Ballet of Lights” is a magical dance show where original choreographies bring to life those tales of fantasy, bravery and requited love by the hand (and especially the feet) of professional dancers. Only that it goes much further, because their costumes are covered with lights, underlining the emotion of each scene and making each step shine by itself. Reduced versions of the original ballet that make them accessible to the youngest, while still thrilling the most adults.
Ballet of Lights in Seville: what story can you see right now?
All shows are approximately 60 minutes long and are designed for ages 5 and up. New stories will be coming soon (and the ones that have become essential will also be back), but for now these are the stories we can see in Seville right now:
Cinderella
With Debussy’ s Moonlight, the finale of William Tell Overture or Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre as part of the soundtrack, who wouldn’t fall in love enough to try a shoe on every girl in the kingdom until they find Cinderella? The fairy tale that was born from Charles Perrault in 1697 and that the Brothers Grimm versioned in 1812 now finds its most luminously magical version here.
Sleeping Beauty
They heard of this princess with deep sleep problems in the 14th century. Then Charles Perrault versioned it, as did the Brothers Grimm in 1812 and Robinson Planché and Richard Doyle in 1865, and today Sleeping Beauty is the classic tale par excellence. An unforgettable narrative perfect to be danced among countless points of light following the unmistakable rhythm of Tchaikovsky.
Over the next few months, the Cartuja Auditorium brings to life (and light, and pirouettes, and magic) those tales that have seen us grow up and that have accompanied us since we were children. A mixture of tradition and innovation (and childhood homesickness, why lie to us) that comes to Seville on selected dates with “Ballet of Lights”. You may already know the ending, but you’ve never seen it like this before. Don’t worry if you enter the show with hiccups, because you’re sure to get rid of them when you see the first plié.