HIGH up in the balcony she rests her chin on her hands. The lights go down and her eyes open wide.

Before her is a dream she has had many times. A dream that one day it will be her. A dream that has been bought to life in her books and in films. A dream that is about to unfold in a clash of colour, theatre, dance and beautiful dresses.

This is every little girls dream. Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal Windsor.

The story is well-known – baby is born, baby is cursed, baby grows up, girl pricks her finger, falls asleep for 100 years, is awoken by true love’s kiss, girl marries prince.

It has been read and watched my millions over decades. So what can the ballet offer that no other media format can?

It can offer a sense of losing oneself into the magnificent story-telling unfolding on stage.

One of the main aims of the Vienna Festival Ballet (VFB), which is performing Sleeping Beauty until tomorrow (Saturday), is to bring classical ballet to the general public.

And the eyes of the little girl sitting in the balcony of the theatre during the opening night on Tuesday proved the VFB can do just that.

The ballet was enchanting and superbly held together by Emily-Joy Smith and her toes as the Lilac Fairy whose immediate presence on the stage (more often than not on points) was uplifting and so delightful. She shone as the good fairy saving Princess Aurora from her fate cursed upon her by the evil fairy Carabosse, played by Samantha Bosshardt.

Appearing as the link between characters and acts, Emily-Joy’s delicate and flawless dancing shone.

As any good fairy should.

Windsor’s Theatre Royal is not a big stage so to bring to life the fairytale and the music of Tchaikovsky with a well-lit set is a great achievement in itself.

The dancers proved great skill, control and talent in performing the difficult routines in the space they had and still managed to protray the magic instilled in the dream-like qualities of the ballet.

Speical mention must go to Ben Cook who played Prince Desire as the white knight in shining armour who comes to save the girl and save the day.

With his magnificent legs and strong jumps he was able to swiflty leap and land with such elegance and ease in the space provided, that it took nothing away from the distance one can only imagine he would love to cover with his turns.

If you have a little girl like the one in the balcony last night, if you were a little girl and are now a big girl with dreams still of that little girl, if you are a little boy or big man with wonders of ballet and its awe then Sleeping Beauty by the Vienna Festival Ballet at Theatre Royal Windsor is for you.

l Sleeping Beauty, by Vienna Festival Ballet, is at Theatre Royal Windsor, in Thames Street.

Performances are 7.30pm tonight until Saturday plus a matinee performance on Saturday at 2.30pm. To book visit www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk or call the box office on 01753 853 888.

REBECCA CURLEY