In 1896, La Scala hosted the first production of *Sleeping Beauty* outside of Russia: 130 years later, Tchaikovsky’s music returns to Milan, reinterpreted by six dancers amid a play of lights

On January 15, 1890, in St. Petersburg, Marius Petipa’s *Sleeping Beauty*, set to music by Tchaikovsky, made its debut. Six years later, on March 11, 1896, the ballet left Russian borders for the first time: La Scala staged a production choreographed by Giorgio Saracco, with Carlotta Brianza in the role of Aurora, a part she had already performed at the premiere.

The connection with the Piermarini continued in 1966, when Rudolf Nureyev chose La Scala to present his version, with Carla Fracci by his side.

130 years after that first Milanese production, the fairy tale comes to the Teatro Leonardo with *Ballet of Lights*: a reinterpretation featuring six dancers and luminous costumes that transform their movements into patterns of light.

Located on Via Ampère, near the Piola stop, the Teatro Leonardo da Vinci has a 488-seat auditorium. Today it is managed by MTM—Manifatture Teatrali Milanesi—and hosts a program ranging from theater to music. For this ballet, the close proximity of the stage to the audience allows viewers to follow the dancers’ movements up close.

On stage are six professional dancers performing classical choreography. The fluorescent costumes stand out in the dark and accompany every step: jumps and pirouettes become trails of light on the stage.

Tchaikovsky’s music, reworked for the production, follows the story’s key moments, from Aurora’s Waltz to the Grand Pas de deux. The performance lasts about an hour and offers a visual reinterpretation of the fairy tale.

• 📍Where: Teatro Leonardo da Vinci, Via Ampère 1, Milan.
• 📅 When: November 14, 2026, through March 20, 2027.
• 🕒 Running time: approximately 60 minutes.
• 🎟️Price: tickets starting at €32.