DATO’ JUHARI SHAARANI CONFIRMS ‘THE SLEEPING BEAUTY’ BY ST PETERSBURG THEATRE RUSSIAN BALLET ON 4 & 5 APRIL 2020 AT ISTANA BUDAYA, FEATURING 37 BALERINAS AND 33 PIECE NSO, CONDUCTED BY TIMUR GOTKOVENKO.

(left) Datuk Mustafa Fuzer Nawi, Music Director of National Symphony Orchestra, Dato' Mohamed Juhari, Director General of IB, Dr Ayrat, Head of Culture, Embassy of the Russian Federation, Shannon Lee and Audrey Kwan

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 November 2019 – Dato’ Mohamed Juhari Shaarani, Director General of Istana Budaya, has announced the featuring of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) conducted by Timur Gotkovenko to the Asian World Premiere of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ by St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet. The feature presentation is set to be held on the 4th to 5th of April 2020 at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur. The Sleeping Beauty is poised to be the major landmark international ballet performing arts feature presentation in the Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 campaign. Following The Dance Company (TDC)’s success in bringing in the first full professional UK cast full-length ballet “Swan Lake by Ballet West’ last year, TDC brings ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ by the world-renowned St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet with a full team of 37 Russian ballet ballerinas to showcase their talent in executing the technically challenging choreography. There will be a combined crew of about 100 people including the dance artists, musicians, technical crew, costume crew, choreographer and ballet master involved in the production of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’.

                                  Dato' Mohamed Juhari Shaarani, Director General of IB

Dato’ Mohamed Juhari Shaarani, Director General of Istana Budaya, said “I am honored to announce that Istana Budaya will be hosting ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ on the 4th to 5th April 2020. I believe with the featuring of the National Symphony Orchestra, which is a 33-piece orchestra, in the feature presentation will set the atmosphere for the audience to experience. I am sure that ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ will be the hallmark event of the Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 campaign.” The Sleeping Beauty in Malaysia continues the long and great tradition of Russian classical ballet from what most would consider of being the Russian ballet’s golden age and will be performed in its most original choreography. The company tours 250 sold-out performances annually, in over 130 cities including those of Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, China and the USA to over 1 million audiences. Dr Ayrat A. Akhmetov, Director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture said “I believe productions such as The Sleeping Beauty by the St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet jointly organized by Malaysia’s The Dance Company enables our countries to build stronger ties with each other through the culture exchange. I am proud to witness the heritage of the Russian ballet shared to Asia through the Asian World Premiere of The Sleeping Beauty in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It will truly be an honor to see Timur Gotkovenko, the world-renowned orchestra conductor, leading the orchestra providing the audience a whole new theatre experience.”

Audrey Kwan, President of the Dance Artistry International, said “The Sleeping Beauty first premiered in St Petersburg in 1890. 129 years later, we are truly humbled that the legendary St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet will bring a classic from their home to perform ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ for the first time in Asia. ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ is a real masterpiece of the Russian Ballet that was choreographed by the famous legend Marius Petipa which ballet critics consider the ballet as the “encyclopedia of classical dance. The music composition, which was nothing short of a wonder, was done by the famous Russian composer, Pyotr Tchaikovsky.” “In conjunction with Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 campaign, we are proud to announce that we will be producing a dance film featuring world renowned dancers and local dance talents from JKKN, entitled “Cultural Tourism Through Dance”. The dance film will be contested in dance film festivals in 11 countries held in 2020,” added Audrey Kwan. ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ feature presentation will take place on the 4th to 5th April 2020 at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur. The tickets are available from 1st December 2019 and do make your bookings fast as seats are limited.

About The Dance Company (TDC)The Dance Company is the brainchild of Shannon Lee and Audrey Kwan, with the mission to place Malaysia on the international dance map by international collaborations & exchanges. TDC also aims to create and develop an industry for dance in Malaysia. Since its establishment, TDC has staged Malaysia’s first ever full professional UK cast full-length ballet, Swan Lake by Ballet West at Resorts World Genting on Malaysia’s 61st Merdeka Day.

About St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet
The St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet is made up of the finest dancers that includes professional artists and soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre, belonging to a dynasty that is more than a hundred years old. They perform 250 sold out shows a year and tours in over 130 cities and countries including Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, China, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, the United States of America and many more. Besides The Sleeping Beauty ballet performance, they also perform The Nutcracker, Swan lake, Giselle and Don Quixote.