“Sleeping Beauty’s” timeless tale of a beautiful princess, a dashing prince and the triumph of good over evil with a single kiss has delighted audiences for years. North Carolina Dance Theatre (a Knight arts grantee) is performing the entire “Sleeping Beauty” for the very first time. “Sleeping Beauty” is a powerful and entertaining mesmerizing work that — like all great fairy tales — is grand in scale and delivery. North Carolina Dance Theatre does an incredible job with this ballet full of complex layers woven of many lavish details.

North Carolina Dance Theatre President and Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, who is known for creating spectacular classical ballets, including “The Nutcracker,” “Cinderella” and “Peter Pan,” is choreographing Dance Theatre’s production. “’Sleeping Beauty’ is the essence of classical ballet, and I believe Charlotteans will enjoy the opulent sets and costumes of this spectacular performance,” said Bonnefoux.

The ballet was originally choreographed in 1890 by Marius Petipa, with music composed by Tchaikovsky. This version is put together much like the original work. Whether watching the solo or group dances, the classical effortlessness of these talented dancers is breathtaking. Their physics-defying athleticism is simply amazing in light of this very difficult traditional ballet.

North Carolina Dance Theatre is known for its strong dancers and versatile repertoire, ranging from classical ballet to bold, contemporary works. This three-act ballet includes a cast of more than 80 dancers and is as beautiful as it is stunning. The emotion and storytelling through movement and music is timeless. But the many details and lovely vignettes within each act are a real treat.

If you are not familiar with the story, here is a brief synopsis:  The king and queen have invited all the fairies of the land to the christening of their daughter, Princess Aurora. But Carabosse has been forgotten and curses Aurora to die from a prick of the finger. On Aurora’s 16th birthday, she receives a flower and dances with it until she pricks her finger. Aurora falls lifeless and seems to die, but the Lilac Fairy appears and says she is only asleep. Then, sending the whole court to sleep, the Lilac Fairy conjures up a forest to conceal them. A hundred years later Prince Florimund is lead by the Lilac Fairy to the palace where Aurora is sleeping. The Prince wakes Aurora with a kiss. The spell is broken and their wedding is celebrated.

“Sleeping Beauty” is part of Ulysses: Charlotte’s New Spring Festival of the Arts, a month-long, innovative addition to the rich Carolinas arts landscape. The theme for the inaugural 2012 festival — The Majesty of Russia and the Music of Tchaikovsky — fetes Russian culture and composer Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky through myriad artistic avenues, highlighted by the creative efforts of leading Charlotte arts organizations.

Tickets to “Sleeping Beauty” start at $25, but there are special ticket deals through the Ulysses Festival. For details, visit charlottecultureguide.com/ulysses. Additionally, there are tickets specials between The Mint Museum (a Knight arts grantee) and North Carolina Dance Theatre. (Check this link for info.) There will also be a “Sleeping Beauty” Educational Theater Performance — which will be the entire first act — on Thursday, March 15 for only $10 a person.

North Caolina Dance Theatre Presents “Sleeping Beauty” Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte Thursday, March 8, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2012, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012, at 2 p.m. Friday, March 16, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, 2012, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 2012, at 2 p.m.

Tickets range from $25-$79; Purchase at 704-372-1000, ncdance.org or Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Box Office (Belk Theater Lobby) Groups of 10 or more receive discounts off the regular price of tickets. (Call 704-379-1380.)