Swan Lake was presented one night only, March 26, at Century II Concert Hall. The visually stunning ballet was presented by International Ballet Stars under the direction of Producer Ekaterina Vaganova-Yachmennikova. The North America ballet tour will present anywhere from 72 to 150 performances across the United States, creating one of the largest classical ballet tours in North America.
Ekaterina was a teacher and choreographer for Dancing With The Stars in Italy (2012–2017), Dancing With The Stars in Russia (2009), and So You Think You Can Dance Russia (2015–2016). Based out of Miami, Ekaterina, along with her husband Artem Yachmennikov founded the We Dance Program in 2021 to include around 25 ballet studios participating in Classical Arts Entertainment productions. This program allows ballet students of ages 5+ to perform with the professional ballet companies and gain a one-in-a lifetime educational and cultural experience. It was unclear from the beautifully designed program if any local studios and their students were included in the ballet.
Swan Lake was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. When the ballet premiered with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, it was an initial failure, and was performed 41 times in its initial iteration. With original choreography Václav Reisinger, the ballet has since had sections of its music and plot re-written and re-choreographed by countless artists. Now it is now one of the most popular ballets of all time. International Ballet Star’s production based their performances on the 1895 revival of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, first staged for the Imperial Ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. For this revival, Tchaikovsky's score was revised by Riccardo Drigo.
The scenario, initially in two acts, was based on Russian and German folk tales, telling the story of Prince Siegfried, who is searching for a bride, and falls in love with Odette, a princess turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer Rothbart’s curse. There are innumerable variations and endings to this ballet. The original version featured a tragic ending where Odette and Prince Siegfried both drown in the lake. After Siegfried breaks his vow to Odette, the sorcerer Von Rothbart prevails, and the lovers choose death together in the water rather than live apart. In the version danced by International Ballet Stars, the ending is one of a "happily ever after" in which Siegfried fights Rothbart and tears off his wing, killing him. Odette is restored to human form and she and Siegfried are happily united.
I was disappointed to find that there were no program credits given to the designers or the performers regarding the specific roles they danced. There were some STUNNING performances and it is a shame I cannot give credit where credit is due.
The painted backdrops were absolutely breathtaking. The Palace featured gorgeous stained glass window drops, which were well lit with different colors depending on the costume schemes. In the 1st Act the colors were rose and blue, and in the 2nd Act the palace was lit in a pale green and pink light. The Thrones for the prince and queen in the 2nd Act were simple, yet had a contemporary flair. When the cast moves to the Lake and castle exterior in the 1st Act, the dominant full moon is blood red, and the black iridescent water glistens and sparkles. In the 2nd Act, the moon turned full and bright white, with the lake a clear blue, still glistening.
The costumes in Swan Lake were tastefully opulent. For example, the Queen’s opening costume and crown, sporting red and gold pearls on the traditional Russian headdress, was quite luxurious. The Spanish Dancers in the 2nd Act wore rich red and black, with matching fans; the Russian Dancers had the most decadently rich royal blue and gold tutus and tights. And of course, the Swans dazzled in their white (and black) feathers. Rothbart’s costume was magnificent, with a black feathered headdress, with both an iridescent cape and wings. In the opening Royal Court scene, the dancer portraying the Jester dazzled the audience with airy leaps of amazing height, and lightning quick turns. The Jester was quite the character, always milking the applause! In the way of the classic old Russian style. there were many stops in the action, with room for applause after each solo/movement.
Act 1 Scene 2 opened with Prince Siegfried hunting for swans with his Crossbow outside the palace, when he happens upon Odette and her beautiful corps of swans. Odette’s opening solo was clean and precise. Siegfried’s opening pas de deus with Odette was delicate and sublime. Of course, the highlight of the scene was the exquisite pas de quatre, perfectly executed, with every swan perfectly in sync. Our reverie is jolted by the appearance of the evil Rothbart, mesmerizing the audience with his precision, powerful athletic leaps, and dazzling black iridescent headdress and wings. He sees Siegfried and Odette’s love for each other, and vows to trick the lovers by making Siegfried break his vows to Odette.
Act 2 Scene 1 opened with The Ball, where Prince Siegfried hosts a dazzling array of beautiful young female suitors suitable to betroth; some are royalty, dazzling with their dances of Spanish, Russian, and Asian origin, all sporting spectacularly colorful costumes. Unfortunately, all Siegfried can think about is Odette. Without warning, Rothbart bursts in with his daughter, Odile, whom Siegfried thinks is Odette. Siegfried dances an achingly beautiful pas de deux with Odile, which soon melts into a gloriously athletic pas de trois that includes Rothbart. This is quickly followed by Odile’s solo with her flawlessly executed 32 fouetté turns, which elicited great applause from the audience. When Rothbart reveals himself, and Siegfried realizes Odile is not Odette, he runs out of the castle and to the lake.
Act 2 Scene 3 finds us back at the lake, where the white swans now mix with the black swans. The action moves quickly as Prince Siegfried finds Odette and together they dance a pas de deux of forgiveness. Rothbart and Siegfried battle for control of Odette in an intense, explosive pas de deux, which ends with Siegfried violently ripping off one of Rothbart’s wing, causing his death. Odette and Siegfried conclude the proceedings with an incredibly emotional pas de deux, and as the sun rises, we see all will live happily ever after!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t leave you with an interesting historical tidbit. According to NPR and ABC, anytime there was political instability or upheaval in the Soviet Union, State Television would air the entire Swan Lake ballet on loop.
International Ballet Stars are currently touring the United States, performing Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty in rep through May 10th, stopping in Seattle, WA on April 26, Stockton, CA on May 3, and Tucson, AZ on May 10.
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