Ballet
Swan Lake
Swan Lake is the ballet almost everyone pictures first when they hear the word ballet. It has a lake, a spell, and a whole flock of dancers moving like real swans. Once you have seen it, that swan music tends to stay in your head for days.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Choreographer
- Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov (definitive 1895 version); original 1877 by Julius Reisinger
- Premiere
- 1877, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow
- Structure
- Four acts
- Running time
- About 2 hours 45 minutes with intervals
The story
Prince Siegfried goes hunting and meets Odette, a princess who has been turned into a swan by the sorcerer Von Rothbart. The spell can only be broken by true and faithful love. At a royal ball, Rothbart tricks Siegfried by presenting his own daughter Odile, who looks just like Odette, and the prince pledges his love to the wrong woman. Realizing his mistake, Siegfried rushes back to the lake to beg Odette's forgiveness. Depending on the production, the two lovers either die together and defeat the spell in death, or find a happy ending.
What Swan Lake is famous for
- the 32 fouetté turns
- one dancer playing both Odette and Odile
- the corps de ballet as a flock of swans
- Tchaikovsky's sweeping score
Companies that perform Swan Lake
Swan Lake is in the repertoire of companies including New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, The Australian Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Ballet Nacional de Cuba.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does one ballerina dance two roles?
The same dancer usually performs both the gentle white swan Odette and the dazzling black swan Odile, which shows off her range and makes the ball scene deception feel real.
What are the 32 fouettés?
During the third act, Odile performs 32 whipping turns in a row on one leg. It is one of the hardest feats in classical ballet and audiences often count along.
Does it always have a sad ending?
Not always. Different companies stage different endings, some tragic and some triumphant, so the finale can change depending on which production you see.
Who composed Swan Lake?
Swan Lake was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
How long is Swan Lake?
Swan Lake runs about 2 hours 45 minutes with intervals.