Classical Ballet and Opera House presents Sleeping Beauty at Blackpool Grand Theatre featuring renowned Ukrainian Soloist Ekaterina Floria

Fly to book your tickets now for the enchanting tale of Sleeping Beauty from Classical Ballet and Opera House on Sunday 20 November starring Ukrainian Soloist Ekaterina Floria.

This ravishing production from the renowned UK-based company features stunning choreography, sumptuous costumes, and a gifted cast of dancers hand-picked from countries, across the world - including highly skilled Ukrainian ballet dancers who are currently joining the company in growing numbers.

We had a rare opportunity to talk to Ukrainian Soloist, Ekaterina Floria, before she performs at Blackpool Grand Theatre and ask her how she has been dealing with the very real challenges of the last 6 months…

5 minutes with a Ukrainian principal of Classical Ballet & Opera House

Ekaterina Floria was born in Mariupol, Ukraine. After successfully graduating from the ballet academy, she was accepted right away to the Donbass Ballet Theatre. Thanks to her great dedication and talent, she danced her way up to and became the principal ballerina at the theatre which gave her the opportunity to tour the whole world. She continued to show success on stage, and this was rewarded when she was invited to join the Mariinsky Theatre in 2016 as a soloist where she stayed until recently.

What makes you jump out of your bed every morning?

Ekaterina: To wake up in the morning and see the sun.




What is your favourite role to dance to this moment?

Ekaterina: To this day, I have danced many different ballet roles and the one that I loved dancing the most was a role of Phaedra, Death in a ballet staged by Ronald Petit, Le Jeune Homme et la Mort.




What are you thinking about while you're dancing?

Ekaterina: When dancing I completely try not to think much as it helps me relax and fall into the role I am dancing so that the audience get to experience the true character of the role.




Favourite Ballet?

Ekaterina: I have a very long list, however, these ones here definitely stand out the most. Fleming Flindt’s Phaedra, Carmen and The young man and the Death. Alexei Ratmansky ’s The Little Humpbacked Horse, Sleeping Beauty, Bayadere and Romeo and Juliette.




If you could dance anywhere in the world (not just theatre) where would it be?

Ekaterina: I love the snow and mountains, so it has to be in the Swiss Alps.




Tell us something about yourself that no one knows.

Ekaterina: I am always in doubt, which makes my life sometimes more complicated.




How do you relax after performance?

Ekaterina: Usually, simply laying down and eating something tasty, does the job very well for me!




Favourite Ballet dancer?

Ekaterina: Oh, this question is hard to answer in one sentence as it really depends on role and the ballet itself. I adore, for example, Svetlana Zakharova as Margarite in Lady of Camelias and as Mehmene Banu in The Legend of Love. I very much like Viktoria Tereshkina as Kitri and as Odette-Odilie. Ekaterina Kondaurova I love in all the neoclassical roles. And many old school ballerinas like Tatiana Terekhova, Galina Mezentceva, Lubov Kunakova and the unique Sylvie Guillem.




If you could take anyone to dinner who would you take?

Ekaterina: Given the current situation in the world, it would be my husband and my son.




What’s your life motto?

Ekaterina: Enjoy life and do the things you love!




We know that you are from Mariupol in Ukraine. How have you been dealing with having to leave your home and your theatre?

Ekaterina: Yes, I was born in Mariupol in Ukraine. But I had to leave my hometown to study ballet at the age of 12. Of course, I am very sad that my hometown became so famous for the wrong reasons in the world. I am feeling very disappointed about all the bad things happening at the moment and very upset that I had to leavemy theatre as it was a great place to work at.”

Watch Ekaterina’s captivating performance in every child’s favourite fairy-tale, Sleeping Beauty. This classic story of love and innocence, mystery and magic, is set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score with a magnificent live orchestra of over 30 talented musicians.

Sleeping Beauty tells the tale of Princess Aurora, cursed at her christening by the evil Carabosse to prick her finger one day on a spindle and die. Thanks to the timely intervention of the Lilac Fairy, she doesn’t die, but sleeps for a hundred years. Woken by a prince, who has battled through the Enchanted Forest to reach her, they marry at a ceremony attended by nursery rhyme characters like Puss in Boots and all the other forest creatures.

Not to be missed. Book your seats now!

Tickets from £33.50 Under 18s £25.50

Please call the Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit www.BlackpoolGrand.co.uk for full listings, bookings and further information.

LISTINGS

Sleeping Beauty ballet

Sun 20 Nov 2022 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT

Box Office 01253 290 190

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

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