The hills may be alive with the sound of music, but the halls at Maine State Ballet in Falmouth are alive with the booming voices of teenage boys, laughing and joking amongst themselves while they wait for rehearsal to begin.  In a few short minutes, these young men will transition from typical teenagers into dashing, dignified princes, competing to win the hand of the beautiful Princess Aurora in Maine State Ballet’s production of Sleeping Beauty.

Boomer Druchniak , Nathaniel Dombek, Maiki Saito, Michael Holden

Sleeping Beauty tells the story of Princess Aurora, who as a baby is cursed by the evil Carabosse to prick her finger and die on her sixteenth birthday.  The Lilac Fairy cannot undo the evil fairy’s spell, but she is able to change it.  Instead of dying, Princess Aurora falls asleep for a hundred years, when she is awakened by true love’s kiss.  The ballet is full of beautiful fairies, lovely ladies, evil characters, handsome princes, and lovable characters from other fairy tales.

Set to a score by Peter Tchaikovsky, Sleeping Beauty has been a mainstay of classical ballet for over a hundred years.  Performed in a Prologue and three Acts, it is a daunting ballet for any company.  Only the best have enough experienced dancers, including male dancers, to properly stage such an elaborate production.

Fortunately for ballet lovers in Maine, the state’s premier ballet company, Maine State Ballet, has the depth of talent and the resources to bring this beloved fairy tale to life this spring.  On Friday, March 25, Maine State Ballet opens its three week run of Sleeping Beauty at its Maine State Ballet Theater in Falmouth. 

Maine State Ballet’s production of Sleeping Beauty boasts a cast of sixty, with some dancers performing multiple roles.  The young men are pulling triple duty.  Each is a Cavalier in the famous Rose Adagio, a hunter, and a fairy tale character in the Act Three Wedding. 

Nathaniel Dombek, Maiki Saito, Michael Holden & Boomer Druchniak surround Janet Davis in rehearsal for Maine State Ballet's Sleeping Beauty

Fourteen year old Maiki Saito of Scarborough is the youngest of the quartet, but he displays a maturity beyond his years.  He started dancing when he was seven, and he has been featured in many Maine State Ballet productions, including Fritz in The Nutcracker.  Saito is now an apprentice with the Company.  Sixteen year old Boomer Druchniak of Standish is the newbie in the group.  He filled in as a party boy in the Nutcracker for two years before deciding that he’d like to give ballet a try.  He has been dancing for three years, so he looks to the other boys for guidance and advice.  “I do feel a lot of pressure to keep up with the other guys and to match their abilities,” says Druchniak.  “They’re always helpful, so I just watch and learn.”

Company member Nathaniel Dombek, sixteen, from Gorham, has been dancing for five years.  He is also a talented actor who simply oozes charm and grace.  He is thrilled to be entrusted with such important roles in Sleeping Beauty, including the Bluebird and Puss in Boots.  “I’m glad there are so many challenging and fun parts in this show, and that Mrs. Miele had enough confidence in us to choose this particular ballet,” he says.

At only sixteen years of age, Company member Michael Holden of Falmouth is the seasoned veteran of the group.  He has been dancing at Maine State Ballet since the age of four, when he made his debut as a reindeer in The Nutcracker. Since then, he has played numerous parts, including Fritz and Hansel. His Russian Cossack and Toy Soldier dances in The Nutcracker are always showstoppers, and his mischievous portrayal of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream is an audience favorite. 

Principal dancer Glenn Davis, who has been a dancer and a teacher at Maine State Ballet for twenty years, is pleased to see the young men he has been mentoring grow into more mature roles.  “These young men now have the strength and experience to take on more partnering and solo roles, which is exactly what Sleeping Beauty requires,” he says.  “To be able to do this show at this time is a testament to the depth and maturity of our Company.”

Artistic Director Linda MacArthur Miele could not agree more.  “We could not stage Sleeping Beauty without these young men,” she says.  “To have four talented, dependable young men, who just happen to be the same size and shape, is a gift.  They may be young, but they are extremely smart, extremely confident, and they work extremely hard.  They all know what they have to do, and they do it.  This ballet rests on their shoulders, literally.”

Sleeping Beauty will be performed in three acts with a running time of just over two hours at the Maine State Ballet Theater over three weekends: March 25 at 7pm; March 26 at 2pm & 7pm; March 27 at 2pm; April 1 at 7pm; April 2 at 2pm & 7pm; April 3 at 2pm; April 8 at 7pm; April 9 at 2pm & 7pm; April 10 at 2pm.  Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for seniors & children 12 & under. Seating is limited so please reserve seats through www.mainestateballet.org or by calling the box office at 207.781.3587 weekdays between 10am-4pm.