Indianapolis has long been a city that embraces ballet, from the artistry of Indianapolis Ballet to the world-class training at the Indianapolis School of Ballet. Now, this rich cultural tradition welcomes a dazzling new chapter with Ballet of Lights Indianapolis—an innovative dance spectacle that merges fairytales, technology, and classical ballet. Hosted at Hendricks Live!, one of the city’s most iconic performance venues, this luminous production promises to enchant audiences of all ages.
What is Ballet of Lights?
Ballet of Lights Indianapolis is a spellbinding reinterpretation of beloved fairytales, where timeless stories are told through ballet—enhanced with a radiant twist. Dancers perform in costumes embedded with fibre-optic lights that illuminate every step, pirouette, and gesture, transforming movement into a glowing canvas of emotion and artistry. Designed as an abridged performance, Ballet of Lights makes ballets like Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, and Cinderella more accessible than ever.
Ballet of Lights in Indianapolis: Which story is being performed now?
Each Ballet of Lights experience lasts 60 minutes and is designed for audiences aged 5 and up. While new fairytales will rotate in future seasons, right now Indianapolis audiences can dream along with The Sleeping Beauty.
The Sleeping Beauty
The tale of The Sleeping Beauty has enchanted generations, evolving through centuries of storytelling. Its origins trace back to the French narrative Perceforest (1330–1344) and the Catalan poem ‘Frayre de Joy e Sor de Paser’. Charles Perrault’s The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood popularized the fairytale in the late 17th century, while the Brothers Grimm reintroduced it as Little Briar Rose in 1812. Later, in 1865, James Robinson Planché and illustrator Richard Doyle presented a version that became an instant bestseller, cementing the definitive Sleeping Beauty we know today.
The dreamlike quality of this tale makes it an ideal ballet, and with music from Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 (1889), every illuminated gesture glows with timeless romance and fantasy.
On selected dates at the Hendricks Live!, Ballet of Lights Indianapolis invites families, friends, and ballet enthusiasts to witness a glowing fairytale unfold before their eyes. It’s a rare opportunity to experience both the innovation of illuminated costumes and the timelessness of Tchaikovsky’s score—all in just one hour. There’s something truly timeless about watching a fairytale come to life: the wonder of childhood memories, the beauty of tradition, and the sparkle of modern imagination.