Dancing ‘Beauty’

Donald Beppu left his daughter Romi in the Big Apple during a horrible snowstorm. "The snow was about 10-feet high on the sidewalk," he said. "I stayed for about three weeks and then had to return home. I was so afraid -- she was only 18 years old in that big city."

'Sleeping Beauty' Place: Blaisdell Concert Hall Time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday Tickets: $25 to $65, with $10 discount for students, seniors and military. VIP packages ($90) include Golden Circle seating, parking and post-performance reception. Call: (877) 750-4400 or visit the Blaisdell box office or Ticketmaster outlets Also: Ticketholders are invited to a pre-show discussion with Michael Vernon, known for his annual appearances as Drosselmeyer in "Nutcracker," 45 minutes before each show.

But Romi Beppu persevered, ballet bag in hand, traipsing to rehearsals and auditions. And she prevailed, becoming a principal dancer with the Boston Ballet. Her father's pride is clear. "Ballet dancers are a dime a dozen. There are hundreds of them in the studios, trying their best, a cattle call," he said.

"We are so proud of her."

Beppu is anticipating a warm welcome home when she dances the role of the Lilac Fairy in Ballet Hawaii's "Sleeping Beauty" this weekend.

"I haven't danced at home since becoming a professional," she said. That was more than 10 years ago. "I have lots of friends and family in Hawaii. I've got a whole crew coming."

The production, with live music by the Honolulu Symphony, culminates Ballet Hawaii's 2006 Summer Intensive Program. Magaly Saurez is staging Tchaikovsky's ballet, with Vanessa Zahorian of the San Francisco Ballet and Jose Manuel Carreno of American Ballet Theatre playing Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund.

Beppu started her training at age 7 with John Landovsky at the Hawaii State Ballet. By age 10, she had already decided on a career in dance. "I realized I was serious -- all the other extra-curricular activities went out the door. It's fairytale in part. All little girl's dream about becoming a ballerina."

She left her Nuuanu home after graduating from Punahou and headed for New York City. While many dance students leave home at 16, Beppu had remained at home, even though she'd received a scholarship to dance in New York. "My parents wanted me to stay home until I graduated from high school. Now, I'm grateful for that," she said.

Still, the sacrifices of her dance training meant she had to give up a typical teenage social life. "It's a hard life, not really all that glamorous."

Also, "Professional dancers aren't able to go to college right away. Those are four pivotal years, the prime years in your career," she said.

Her first job was with American Ballet Theatre in New York City. In 1998, she joined Boston Ballet's corps de ballet, becoming a soloist in 2003 and a principal dancer in 2005. She counts "Sleeping Beauty" as among the most difficult classical ballets for female dancers. In Boston, she has danced both the lead role of Aurora and the Lilac Fairy.

"There are much more opportunities on the East Coast," she said. "It's home to me now, but I miss Hawaii very much, especially the weather."

Beppu hopes one day to open her own ballet school. "Ballet is my passion -- it's what I've been doing my whole life."