The perfect example of beautiful ballet, "Swan Lake," has made me believe in love again
The seventh ballet performance is dedicated to the Russian Ballet Theatre's "Swan Lake." This is a romantic story about love, betrayal, and redemption, a magical lyrical poem written on pointe shoes, hailed as the crown jewel of ballet with a musical soul.
"Swan Lake" is based on a fairy tale by German writer Moszkowski, telling a touching love story in a beautifully enchanting way. Moonlight fills the heart lake, the prince falls in love with a white swan cursed by magic, is deceived by illusions and misplaces his true feelings, but later bravely pursues his wife and true love.
"Swan Lake" is one of the three must-see ballets composed by Tchaikovsky and the most popular one. It premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 1877 but was a failure. In 1895, after being re-choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, the fathers of classical ballet, it became a huge success and a model of classical ballet.
Prince Siegfried falls in love at first sight with Odette, the white swan princess cursed by the evil sorcerer, while out hunting. They dance gracefully by the tranquil Swan Lake, expressing their feelings and pledging to break the curse with true love. Every glance, every lift and spin is full of affection, dreamlike and enchanting.
At the ball, the prince shows off like a peacock, with countless choices but only love for one. However, he is deceived by illusions and mistakes the black swan for the white swan with whom he pledged eternal love, causing Odette to be forever trapped in magic.
"Swan Lake" is breathtakingly beautiful and rich in detail, such as the prince’s coming-of-age ceremony, the empress dowager’s triple marriage pressure, the prince’s compassion for Odette, Odette’s sorrowful cries and heartbreak upon witnessing betrayal, the swan flock’s protection of the princess, and the prince’s frantic remorse as he chases the swan flock.
The difficult techniques are concentrated in the second half, with group dances driving the emotions. Especially the light and graceful large swan group dance, simulating the flapping wings and water stepping of the swans; the four little swans’ 16 precise and synchronized “catwalk” jumps, playful and lively;
And the black swan’s 32 stable fouetté turns, maintaining seductive eye contact while spinning enchantingly, subtly teasing, regarded as the touchstone for measuring the skill of ballet dancers and companies.
The black and white swans are played by the same dancer, with body language distinguishing the roles. Odette is sorrowful and poetic, with a slightly arched back in the “arabesque,” hiding her cursed fragility and timidity; Odile is seductive like a snake, with a straight back in the replicated “arabesque,” bold and provocative.
From the white swan’s melancholic serenity to the cold and glamorous evil transformation, the determined expression when bending forward is exquisite!
“Character dances” blend folk dances from various European nations, each with distinct charm and many highlights. Hungary’s “Csárdás” is passionate and unrestrained; Poland’s “Mazurka” is noble and elegant; Spain’s bullfight dance highlights the fiery personality of the Gypsies; Italy’s “Tarantella,” with tambourines in hand, is full of energy.
After realizing he was deceived, the prince returns to Swan Lake to ask for Odette’s forgiveness. The swan flock’s group dance, with “curling and piling” and “interlaced blocking,” intensifies the despair of the broken vow.
Today’s unlocked reunion ending shows that although the prince was lost and deceived by illusions, he reflects in time, bravely fights back, breaks the sorcerer’s wings, proving his true heart and determination.
After this life-and-death test, true love ultimately conquers evil, breaking the princess’s curse and bonds, and the two embrace deeply as the curtain falls.
I attended the director’s masterclass in the rain. Although I couldn’t answer questions precisely, I was able to appreciate several classic dance segments up close and in full, as well as the sign language from their first meeting, deepening my admiration for the dedication of the performers.