“Swan Lake,” Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky’s first ballet, and one of the most popular ballets of all time, tells the love story of Prince Siegfried and Odette — a princess put under a curse by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart to turn her into a swan during the day. In many versions of the ballet, the story ends in tragedy, but the version the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine chose ends in victory for Siegfried and Odette.
This signal of hope parallels the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine’s reason for touring the U.S. and Canada amid the war in Ukraine. For the sold-out show at Bass Concert Hall on Wednesday, the program said, “We are grateful that even through the challenging times in the homeland of Ukrainian dancers, we stick to the motto: The Show Must Go On.”
“From the bottom to the top, you’re seeing the entire evolution of the dream of a ballet dancer,” said Kelly Yankle, director of the East Side Performing Arts Professional Training Program. “Little girls (are) watching these professional dancers on stage in their tutus, and they’re seeing (that) this isn’t just something that they talk about in the fairytales. (They’re) witnessing a fairytale in this story, but this is real life, and (they) can actually be this.”
Whether it’s the corps de ballet swans entrance or Siegfried finding Odette in the forest, the magic of “Swan Lake” transcends generations. Since its premiere in 1877, “Swan Lake” remains the ultimate dream for aspiring ballerinas, and this production continued its legacy. One performance stood out from the rest: the State Ballet Theatre’s Rothbart. Performing as the menacing magician in owl form, his sharp gestures were phenomenally non-human.
Young Austin and Round Rock dancers from ages three to 13 and up danced alongside the professionals, fitting in perfectly. Dancers from East Side Performing Arts Professional Training Program, Nana Ballet and Rise Dance Collective performed for one night at Bass Concert Hall. Yankle said for dancers to perform a sold out show alongside one of the most well-regarded companies in the world is something that even professional dancers might not get to experience. Coming from a Ukrainian family, Yankle said taking part in this show felt like giving back to the community there.
“To have these people — who were facing such horror (and) not having anything — (being) employed and dancing one of the greatest ballets in history, for me to have any part in that goodness is the best thing I feel like I could do,” Yankle said. “(Those) of us who are professional artists (come together for) anyone who is in need to keep this (art) alive.”
In the State Ballet Theatre’s performance, the crowd got excited during the famous dance of the cygnets, or “little swans” and erupted after Odile (Ilona Baitler) perfectly executed the iconic 32 fouetté turns in the third act — one of the most anticipated and difficult scenes. Odile and Odette are typically a dual role, with one ballerina performing both parts, and Baitler did so magically.
“Swan Lake” continues to inspire dancers and patrons of the arts to appreciate a performance that never loses its sparkle, no matter what century it’s performed.
4 ½ broken curses out of 5