Hans Christian Andersen's Tales Retold

Imagine a person with such delicate perception that they can feel not only a wrinkle on a bedsheet but also the slightest tremor of air from an almost imperceptible draft. In the 21st century, Andersen’s princess would likely struggle to sleep due to a miscolored pixel on a phone screen or a forgotten remote control button in bed. However, in this new version of the story, told through the language of ballet by Nadya Timofeeva, she doesn’t sleep on a pea but on a pearl – and that changes everything.

The fairytale ballet "The Princess and the Pea," staged by the Jerusalem Ballet,

is a reimagined Andersen, where the classic plot transforms into an exquisite dance kaleidoscope. Instead of a single princess, there is an entire scattering, like pearls spilled across the stage. The main one cannot sleep, but the reason is not the cunning pearl – it’s the moon, whose light awakens not discomfort but love. Insomnia here is not a punishment but a revelation, and her dance turns into a poem, as if she is writing it in the air.

And the prince? He wanders the world in search of the one. Along the way, he meets different girls: a capricious princess who is never satisfied; a mermaid he falls in love with but whose world remains foreign to him; a domineering beauty who dreams of taming even the song of a nightingale. But in the end, the prince realizes that happiness is not hidden in mattresses and trials – it has been close to him all along.

This ballet surprises not only with its reinterpretation of the fairytale but also with its choreographic vision. The young and graceful king and queen dance so beautifully that they deserve applause of their own. The princesses, the handmaidens, even the horses pulling the carriage – all are dancers creating an illusion of true magic. The mermaid is particularly mesmerizing: her movements are so organic that she seems to emerge from sea foam right on stage.

An interesting detail – the performance features the voice of actress and narrator Michal Adam, adding storytelling to the dance, deepening the emotional impact of the production. This makes the show accessible not only to young audiences but also to adults who can appreciate the nuanced layers of the story. Puppets, shadows, light, music – everything here contributes to an atmosphere of delicacy and grace. In this ballet, even the air between the dancers becomes part of the narrative, filled with whispers, laughter, and poetry.

So, if you want to see Andersen joking, singing, dancing, and philosophizing – this is the performance for you. Highly recommended!