Originally scheduled in 2020, the extremely anticipated return of the world’s most well-known ballet, carried out by Scotland’s nationwide dance firm, is the most popular ticket of the season, with seats already scarce.
The manufacturing will probably be touring to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness & Edinburgh throughout April and May.
There’s not a tutu or tiara in sight – this replace of the basic ballet incorporates a gorgeous minimal set and glossy, trendy costume designs, focusing the viewers’s consideration on the sheer athleticism on stage – arching backs, spiralling arms and mesmerising patterns, which push the corporate dancers to their bodily limits.
Performed to Tchaikovsky’s well-known romantic rating, David Dawson’s daring, visceral choreography celebrates the corps de ballet at its finest, because the swarming dancers develop into the center and soul of the story on stage.
Much-loved former Scottish Ballet Principal Dancer Sophie Martin, who Swan Lake was initially created on, will return to carry out on a number of dates in Glasgow and Edinburgh, having missed out when the tour was cancelled in 2020.
In this well-known story of purity versus seduction, the sturdy, swish swan Odette captivates younger and lonely Siegfried. Their duets are powered by emotional honesty, as she flies throughout the stage in direction of him, flanked by shifting formations of swans. But later, her nemesis Odile seems, who whips the air round her into an exciting bodily and psychological frenzy, and Siegfried errors her for Odette.
Scottish Ballet Artistic Director/CEO Christopher Hampson mentioned:
“This is a production that really shows Scottish Ballet dancers at their best, particularly the women, as they personify these incredible creatures. I set choreographer David Dawson a challenge, to take a classic and iconic work but refresh it to speak to new generations – he certainly rose to that challenge and delivered a distinctive and visceral production. The visual simplicity is profound, with the focus on the dancers and the remarkable shapes that they make – the corps de ballet are the stars.”
Choreographer David Dawson mentioned:
“Scottish Ballet has made me feel very welcome. The dancers are warm and open and have created a very productive environment. They love the challenge of virtuosity and audiences love to see them succeed. Since I was last here, a lot of the younger ones have grown up and I feel incredibly proud to see what they are achieving. Swan Lake is about trust, love and betrayal, something we can all relate to. In my version I don’t want spectators watching history, I want the characters to be you and me.”
Principal Dancer Roseanna Leney mentioned:
“The art of ballet is making extremely hard things look elegant, but then there is a ballet like this Swan Lake – it just pushes traditional classical ballet moves to every extreme. David Dawson has a very specific style – full of expansive, exaggerated, but graceful movements. It’s extremely demanding but incredibly rewarding to dance. Especially being women – the swans are in all four acts, it’s non-stop dancing. That builds a real team – all the women are together in this hard process, everyone out of breath together. Up close, you hear that breathing, and it pushes you even further.”
TOUR:
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
4 – 6 April 2024
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
18 – 20 April 2024
Eden Court, Inverness
26 – 27 April 2024
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
2 – 4 May 2024
Images: Mihaela Bodlovic
