‘Ballet of Lights’ in Tauranga joins a prestigious roster of performances in the city’s ever-evolving performing arts scene — home to standout events like the National Jazz Festival’s Hurricane Party and the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Tutus on Tour at Baycourt Community & Arts Centre. The performance offers a dazzling reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty. But this is no ordinary ballet—professional ballerinas will light up the stage in glow-in-the-dark costumes, retelling the classic tale in a truly spellbinding way.
What better place to experience this new show than the Bay of Plenty’s hub for aspiring performers, ‘Bethlehem College Performing Arts Centre’. A spacious 600 seat auditorium with pitch perfect acoustics, the centre is committed to community and artistic excellence. And here, the ballerinas intend to deliver you that same objective; a feeling of togetherness through dazzling performance. Tickets are on sale, but dates are limited— get yours today!
What is ‘Ballet of Lights’?
Ballet has often been perceived as ‘old-fashioned’ — too slow, too subtle, not stimulating enough for today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving world. ‘Ballet of Lights’ has heard this perception and responded. The performance offers a reimagined experience of classical escapism — one that honours the timeless romance and precision of ballet while embracing the visual language of the modern age. Adorned in luminous fibre optic lit costumes, the dancers perform traditional choreography set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score — infused with a visually captivating, ethereal energy that brings the classic to life in modern day.
Ballet, its storytelling and the show
Ballet, derived from the Italian ballare—“to dance”—is more than performance. Consider it more as a living piece of cultural history. From 15th century Italian court spectacles to grand stages of the modern day, ballet has told timeless stories through music, movement, and symbolism. Sleeping Beauty is one of its most iconic works, set to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score and centered on Princess Aurora, cursed by the wicked fairy Carabosse. It’s a vivid tale of innocence, fate, and the enduring power of good.
‘Ballet of Lights’ reimagines this masterpiece for a modern audience, preserving its grace whilst amplifying its symbolic power. Dancers in fibre optic lit costumes embody emotion through color and light—mirroring the moods of each scene. The glowing visuals add a poetic layer, turning each pirouette into a spark of meaning. In a world still facing darkness and uncertainty, Sleeping Beauty, the enduring legacy of ballet, and the transformative power of light come together to remind us that even after long periods of struggle, love, hope, and renewal can rise again.
Step into a world of light, poetry, and enchantment at the Bethlehem College Performing Arts Centre, where ‘Ballet of Lights’ invites you on a breathtaking journey of beauty and escapism. Each performance runs for approximately 60 minutes, with doors opening 30 minutes before showtime. Seating within each zone is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and late entry will not be permitted.