Although Tchaikovsky was always critical of his music and did not trust his own talent, he considered “The Sleeping Beauty” one of his best works. This is the second of his three ballets. The composer wrote the ballet in 1889, and the premiere performance took place at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in 1890. Choreographer Marius Petipa's production raised a furore, and since then “The Sleeping Beauty” has seen numerous premieres all over the world and is also included in the principal repertoire in Latvian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. It is one of the cornerstones of classical ballet, and a challenge to every dancer's professionality.

The European folk story, which was made popular by story masters Charles Perrault and Brothers Grimm, tells about Princess Aurora, which has been cursed by the evil fairy Carabosse to die from a prick of a needle. The kind fairies are not able to divert the curse, but they can alter it, allowing the needle to cause her sleep until she is awoken by a prince's kiss.

Lita Beiris was given the role of Aurora in 1980, and this can be justifiably called the turning point in her dancing career. After achievements in competitions in Moscow and Varna, Bulgaria, Beiris secured her positions as prima ballerina at home.

Ballet historian Ija Bite wrote in her review that “the time of Lita Beiris blossoming has begun, she has been noticed and she fascinates both as a dancer and as a charming, wise woman.” Meanwhile, ballet master Aivars Leimanis, commenting this role says that only an extraordinary dancer who has mastered perfect technique can do it. Beiris lived the role of Aurora. Her acting skills were in harmony with ballet technique, and it resulted in a convincing story and performance that was in the dancer's repertoire for many years. One of Beiris' partners in the role of Prince Desire was the outstanding dancer Viesturs Jansons. Another successful partnership was with Andrey Rumyancev. The ballerina herself, speaking on the role remembers the true satisfaction of dancing it with several partners.

The paintings that relay the story of the Sleeping Beauty include various themes. Forest and the sea, an image of a girl and flowers, princesses and princes... Each of us has our own world of fairytales and moments when we want to return into childhood and believe once more that all the fairytales will have happy endings.

Guntars Gritāns, art historian