By Carol Norris
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati dance audiences finally got the chance to see what all the hoopla has been about. Cuban dance sensation Lorna Feijoo, in her second season with Cincinnati Ballet, showed what a rare ballerina she truly is as Princess Aurora in this weekend's The Sleeping Beauty.

It's not that she's been a slacker in anything she's done here, it's that Sleeping Beauty is the kind of ballet that allows sincere artistry to blossom. Only the most accomplished dancer can pull off the incredible balances, turns, endless arabesques and lilting torso work with effortless aplomb. She does all that and more.

She plays with the Tchaikovsky score, beautifully interpreted by Carmon DeLeone and orchestra, and she plays with Kirk Peterson's difficult choreography with finesse. In all this, Dimitri Trubchanov is her worthy Prince Florimund.

Ms. Feijoo is often partnered by husband Nelson Madrigal. Because he's injured, Mr. Trubchanov, a senior soloist, has been thrown into principal roles recently. He's proven that the company has another prince it can count on.

His line is clean; his dancing unmannered. He kept his big jumps simple - pure tour jetes - but they were powerful and gorgeous. His partnering Ms. Feijoo was impeccable; they make a handsome stage couple.

Mr. Peterson has prepared a Beauty that has all the grandeur and elegance worthy of a classic. This ballet has been around since 1890; for an old-fashioned fairy tale, it can't be beat. In the end, the moral has nothing to do with love, but about the forces of good and evil.

On a lovely stage design of a castle's interior by Peter Farmer, which was brought to life as rich blues and greens by in-house lighting designer Trad A. Burns, the dancers attacked Mr. Peterson's challenging steps head-on. There were a few slips opening night, but the depth in the company was evident. They're capable of handling this high level of dancing.

Standouts: Mishic Marie Corn, expressive as Lilac Fairy; Janessa Touchet, like quicksilver in dual roles as fairy and Princess Florine; and Tricia Sundbeck, who sparkled as Sapphire.

With four performances through Sunday matinee, Kristi Capps will also appear as Princess Aurora.