Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Dancer: Charles Martin as White Rabbit. Photo: Kenny Johnson. 2013
KCBalletMedia, Commons
QUICK F A C T S
- ✦ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was first published in 1865 and inspired numerous ballet adaptations.
✦ One of the most famous modern versions was choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon for The Royal Ballet in 2011.
✦ Other notable ballet adaptations by Septime Webre and companies such as The Washington Ballet and Alberta Ballet.
✦ Many Alice ballets blend classical dance with fantasy theater, elaborate costumes, puppetry, projections, and surreal stage effects.
✦ The story remains popular in ballet because of its themes of curiosity, identity, and growing up.
Courtesy of the Washington Ballet. Sona Kharatian as the Queen of Hearts, photo by Brianne Bland.
KCBalletMedia 2012, Commons
S U M M A R Y
Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published in 1865, inspired generations of artists with its strange fantasy world, memorable characters, and dreamlike logic. Because of this, many choreographers created their own ballet adaptations of Alice’s journey through Wonderland. Some productions focus on theatrical spectacle and humor, while others emphasize surreal imagery, childhood imagination, or emotional growth. Over time, Alice became one of the most frequently reimagined literary stories in modern ballet.
“Promotional image for an Alberta Ballet production of Alice in Wonderland”
Courtesy of the Washington Ballet. Pictured: Emily Ellis (Eaglet), photo by Brianne Bland. 2012
KCBalletMedia
One of the most famous versions is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Christopher Wheeldon, which premiered in 2011 with The Royal Ballet. Featuring music by Joby Talbot and elaborate designs by Bob Crowley, Wheeldon’s ballet became famous for its large-scale stage magic, projections, puppetry, and colorful fantasy atmosphere. The production was created for ballerina Lauren Cuthbertson and blended classical ballet with comedy, theatrical illusion, and emotional storytelling.
Other notable ballet adaptations include ALICE (in wonderland) by Septime Webre, originally created for The Washington Ballet with music by Matthew Pierce. While both ballets are inspired by Carroll’s original story, they differ greatly in visual style, choreography, music, and atmosphere. Some productions lean toward whimsical fantasy and family storytelling, while others highlight the surreal, dreamlike, or even unsettling qualities hidden within Wonderland itself.
Courtesy of the Washington Ballet. Brooklyn Mack (Dodo Bird), photo by Brianne Bland. 2012. KCBalletMedia, Commons.
E N C O R E
✦ On Today’s Stage — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has become one of the most widely performed contemporary full-length story ballets, especially popular with audiences drawn to fantasy, theatrical spectacle, and literary adaptations.
✦ Iconic Interpreters — Lauren Cuthbertson originated the role of Alice and became closely associated with the ballet’s curious and imaginative spirit, while Christopher Wheeldon helped redefine the possibilities of modern narrative ballet.
✦ Legacy — Blending large-scale stage design, inventive choreography, puppetry, projections, and an original score by Joby Talbot, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland became one of the most successful fantasy ballets of the twenty-first century and introduced many younger audiences to contemporary ballet storytelling.