Classical variation guide
Prince Désiré Variation
Also known as Prince Desire Variation · Prince Florimund Variation · Sleeping Beauty Prince Variation
The Sleeping Beauty · Act III · Wedding Celebration
Male
Advanced
Marius Petipa
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
About this variation
Prince Désiré’s Act III wedding variation combines noble classical line with demanding jumps, batterie, and turns. It suits a dancer who can make bravura technique look effortless, courtly, and fully connected to the grandeur of the grand pas de deux.
Performance quality
Noble, airborne, assured, and generously musical
Training focus
Build the jumping phrases from a deep, aligned plié, clarify beats and fifth positions before increasing height, and rehearse the turns in complete musical groups. Keep the upper body calm and expansive so the prince’s authority remains visible through the most demanding passages.
Key elements
Grand jumps · Batterie · Pirouettes · Character acting