Vienna Festival Ballet is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a UK tour and will be bringing the classic story of The Sleeping Beauty to life at Margate Winter Gardens on Sunday (October 17).

The celebrated Austrian dancer Peter Mallek founded the company after his illustrious career as a dancer of international renown in 1980.

Notable for the continued freshness and strength of their dancing casts VFB has top, talented dancers including graduates from the Royal Ballet School, British, Australian and Italian soloists, and guest stars from Vienna and Japan.
Also with the company is VFB’s leading English ballerina, Melanie Cox, who has just recorded The Dying Swan for a new British film.

A strong suit for VFB is their beautiful and lavish hand-made costumes and head dresses.Their productions have all the sparkle and glamour associated with the best of ballet.

The Sleeping Beauty shows off the technique and precision of the dancers in this fairy tale set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, where stunning choreography and beautiful costumes combine to portray the struggle between good and evil.

The wicked fairy Carabosse lays a curse on Princess Aurora, proclaiming that she will one day pierce her finger – and die. But the Lilac Fairy intervenes, and on the fateful day, the princess and the entire palace instead fall into a deep sleep.

A century later, when Prince Florimund awakens the princess with a kiss, the palace awakes and a parade of fairytale characters attends the royal wedding.

The show begins at 5pm and tickets cost £16.50 and £18.50 from the box office, telephone 01843 296111.