Ballet West: Swan Lake

Ballet West delivered an outstanding performance of Swan Lake on its opening night, Friday, February 9, 2024. Swan Lake is an inherently beautiful ballet as it depicts a classic fairy-tale set to Tchaikovsky’s music, and Ballet West’s dancers, orchestra, costume designers, and set designers created a particularly magical rendition that enchanted me from beginning to end. The expert execution of complex choreography, palpable expression of emotion, and lovely color palette used in the costumes and sets were particularly remarkable.

The story begins with Princess Odette (Emily Adams) playing with her friends when an unusual creature (Tyler Gum), half man and half predatory bird, appears at her window, takes her in his arms, and changes her into a swan. Later, Prince Siegfried (Adrian Fry) celebrates his 21st birthday with his friends Benno von Summerstein (Jordan Veit) and Wolfgang (Robert Fowler) as well as courtiers of all ages. His mother, the Queen (Evelyn Cisneros-Legate), reminds him that he must secure his position as monarch by selecting an eligible princess to be his bride. A romantic at heart, Siegfried dislikes his mother’s reminder because he wants neither a political marriage nor the responsibilities of the throne. At dusk, Wolfgang recounts the story of a hate-filled sorcerer by the lake — a bird-like creature — who captures young women, changes them into swans, and keeps them under his power. Only true love will break the sorcerer’s spell. Swans fly overhead, and Prince Siegfried gathers his friends to look for them.

Siegfried and his friends arrive at the lake where the swans have landed. The sorcerer Baron von Rothbardt (Tyler Gum) watches jealously from a distance. Siegfried aims his crossbow at the flock, but one swan moves toward him. He is captivated and tries to catch her. The swan struggles to escape, and in the process, she changes into the loveliest woman Prince Siegfried has ever seen. She explains that she is Princess Odette, captured years ago and put under a spell to remain a swan by day, only becoming human under the moonlight. She pleads with Siegfried to spare these swans, as they also are young women under a spell, and she is their queen. Odette retreats into the mist. Siegfried searches and finds her, but just before he can pledge his love for her, the sorcerer pulls her away. Morning dawns, and Odette returns to being a swan.

Royal guests arrive to celebrate Prince Siegfried’s birthday. As each princess is introduced, Siegfried is polite but distant, thinking only of Odette. Two unexpected guests join the party, Baron von Rothbardt and his daughter Odile (Emily Adams). Odile looks identical to Odette except that she is dressed in black. This tricks Siegfried into thinking that she is Odette. In the meantime, a series of performers entertain the party guests: Spanish Matadors, Neapolitan dancers, and Hungarian lords and ladies. Von Rothbardt interrupts the entertainment to introduce his daughter Odile again. Prince Siegfried is smitten, and thinking Odile is Odette, he professes eternal love to her and pledges to make her his bride. Odette beats her wings at the window, attempting to stop the false pledge. Von Rothbardt leaves with Odile, certain he has the upper hand and will maintain control of his snow maidens. Siegfried realizes his mistake and flees the palace.

The swans wait for Odette to return, hoping she has secured their freedom through Prince Siegfried’s love, but instead, she explains his betrayal. Siegfried appears out of the mists. The swans surround Odette to protect her, but she steps forward to forgive Siegfried. Enraged, von Rothbardt interferes to separate the couple. Desperate, both Odette and Siegfried realize that only a drastic option will break von Rothbardt’s spell.

This production of Swan Lake included many highlights that I loved. Von Rothbardt’s first appearance as an enormous bird in the prologue was both startling and thrilling. He burst through Odette’s window with dramatic movement in his wings, showcasing his spectacular costume, setting the rest of the plot in motion, and creating suspense about what would happen.

The color palette used in the sets and costumes for Siegfried’s birthday party was particularly appealing, contrasting turquoise, rose-beige, brown, and gold, giving the entire scene a regal appearance. This scene included a pas de trois, danced in part by Jenna Rae Herrera, one of my favorite dancers in the company. She imbued her portion of the pas de trois, as well as subsequent solos, with energetic expression as well as lightness on her toes. As is usually the case, she was a joy to watch!

Adrian Fry and Emily Adams appeared to be particularly well-suited to their roles as Siegfried and Odette/Odile, fully expressing their characters’ emotions and gracefully extending each movement. In Siegfried and Odette’s first meeting, Emily Adams’ hand and arm gestures and footwork clearly demonstrated her character’s fear of being captured and struggle to get away. As Fry and Adams danced the pas de deux, Adams excelled at beautiful extensions and awe-inspiring lifts that showed the developing love between the two characters.

The scene that depicts Siegfried’s birthday ball was especially delightful due to the series of dances representing different nationalities. The Spanish, Italian, and Hungarian dances brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm. The Hungarian costumes also were notably regal.

I highly recommend seeing this production if you are able to do so. The fairy-tale storyline and beautiful execution of choreography and production elements make it accessible and enjoyable for all ages. It runs through Saturday, February 17, 2024. Click here for information and tickets.

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