Swan Lake

Our History

	The National Ballet of Canada first performed Act II of Swan Lake on November 17, 1953 at St. Peter’s Auditorium in Peterborough.  Husband and wife team Irene Apiné and Jury Gotshalks performed the roles of Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried.  Irene Apiné and Jury Gotshalks as Odette and Prince Siegfried (ca. 1954).
	National Ballet Founder and Artistic Director Celia Franca created the National Ballet’s first full-length Le Lac des Cygnes (Swan Lake) after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with set and costume designs by Artistic Advisor Kay Ambrose. The four-act production premiered at the Palace Theatre in Hamilton on January 19, 1955 featuring Lois Smith as Odette/Odile, David Adams as Prince Siegfried and James Ronaldson as Von Rothbart.  CBC filmed this production and it aired on December 12, 1956. Following some variations to the choreography and set and costume designs, CBC filmed it again and aired it on December 18, 1961.  Von Rothbart headpiece (1961).
	Long-time collaborator Erik Bruhn was invited by Celia Franca to choreograph a new version of Swan Lake for the much larger O'Keefe Centre stage.  Premiering on March 27, 1967, it featured set and costume designs by Desmond Heeley. The lead roles were performed by Lois Smith and Earl Kraul and Celia Franca herself was cast in the role of the Black Queen. Erik Bruhn went on to become Artistic Director in 1983 until his untimely death in 1986.  Dance Magazine review (May 1967).  Read the review
	Erik Bruhn shifted the thematic drive of his Swan Lake from the traditional battle between good and evil, to the power, both constructive and destructive, of women. The Prince is a young romantic confronted with conflicting emotions brought on by four women – his dominant mother, the pure Swan Queen, the evil Black Queen and the sensual Black Swan. One of the most controversial changes made by Bruhn was the addition of the Black Queen, a re-envisioned female version of the traditional Von Rothbart character.  Bruhn also expanded the character of Prince Siegfried and created more dance and dramatic opportunities for male dancers. Some of the celebrated dancers who have performed this challenging role with the National Ballet include Rudolf Nureyev, Frank Augustyn, Peter Schaufuss and Rex Harrington.  Prince Siegfried jacket from Act II (ca. 1977).
	The new version of Swan Lake was also filmed by CBC television and aired on December 27, 1967. It featured Lois Smith as the Swan Queen, Erik Bruhn as the Prince, Celia Franca as the Black Queen, as well as a young Alex Trebek delivering the introduction and intermission narrations.  Celia Franca on set of the CBC television taping of Swan Lake (1967).
	In 1979, Erik Bruhn’s production was revived with new set and costume designs by Desmond Heeley. It premiered on the company’s first-ever tour to London England’s Royal Opera House on August 6, 1979 and featured Karen Kain, Frank Augustyn and Ann Ditchburn in the lead roles.  Vanessa Harwood with Costume Executor Angela Arana and Designer Desmond Heeley creating the costumes (1979).
	In 1999, Artistic Director James Kudelka choreographed a new version of Swan Lake that premiered on May 5 at the Hummingbird Centre. Greta Hodgkinson and Aleksandar Antonijevic danced the principal roles of Odette/Odile and Siegfried, joined by Rex Harrington as Rothbart. The sets and costumes were designed by frequent National Ballet collaborator Santo Loquasto.  Ballet slippers worn by Aleksandar Antonijevic in the world premiere of James Kudelka’s Swan Lake (1999).

Your Stories

Your story is our history! Celebrate 60 glorious years with us by sharing your treasured National Ballet memories.

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"Back in the days when the National Ballet performed at the Ontario Place Forum, there was a performance of Swan Lake featuring Karen Kain and Frank Augustyn who had recently returned from winning medals in the Soviet Union. In the scene in which the Prince gestures towards the sky to indicate that he sees the swans, a flock of geese flew by in formation, much to the amusement of the audience! Their timing was impeccable!!"

- Jacky Finch, Subscriber & Donor, Over 30 years 

"I remember attending the National Ballet's Swan Lake when I was in 3rd grade and Karen Kain was there. I remember meeting her was absolutely magical and she really inspired me to become the dancer I am today!"

- Nika Amft, Audience Member, 5+ years 

"My favourite childhood memories with my granny evolved around The National Ballet of Canada. Growing up in Barrie, we would trek up highway 400 for a fun day out to watch the both beautiful and fascinating performances. Meeting Karen Kain after watching her flawless performance of some of Swan Lake during a mixed program at Ontario Place was an unforgettable experience for me. I continue to be amazed by the talent and beauty of the dancers each year I return to watch more new and exciting performances, and I look forward to introducing future generations to ballet culture."

- Miss Robyn McArthur, Ticket Buyer, 20+ Years 

"My Memory: Sharing the joy of the ballet with my daughter Amy. The ballet has become our true love of the arts. Our favorite production so far has been Swan Lake. I am looking forward to the new Romeo and Juliet and am coming to the performance on November 18th, this time with a friend. I have to travel from my new home in Elliot Lake, Ontario and wouldn't miss it for the world. Thank you once again for your performances - they have become a regular part of my life."

- Maureen Cameron, Audience Member, Less than 5 years 

"My favourite memory of The National Ballet of Canada is Karen Kain's last Swan Lake. I think of her Odette as the definitive version and I always enjoyed a good cry at the end. But knowing this was the last time I would be seeing her dance this part I found the end absolutely heartrending. My son looked on anxiously as I sobbed my heart out watching Odette being torn away from her love, every inch of her body radiating grief and loss."

- Gillian Watts, Audience Member, 30+ Years 

"My favourite memory of The National Ballet of Canada is Frank Augustyn's last performance of Swan Lake with Karen Kain before he left the company. Besides the superb dancing there was such expressiveness. Most of us were in tears by the time the White Swan was doomed to her fate as a bird and utterly alone, remained abandoned to her fate."

- Elizabeth Ersmine, Audience Member, 30+ Years 

"My husband would not be dragged to the ballet. Then we were invited to Karen Kain's farewell performance of Swan Lake. He was not thrilled but agreed to go. It was a wonderful performance, a magical evening! He was enthralled and we now go to every ballet together."

- Anonymous Audience Member, 50+ Years 

"My favourite memory of The National Ballet of Canada is the curtain opening on the scene where all the little swans in white gathered around the lake - a magical sight indeed - and a little boy's voice above all our "aahs" was clearly heard to call out in wonderment "WOW!" He said it for all of us."

- Mary Davidson, Audience Member, 30+ Years 

"I will always remember watching my first ballet, Swan Lake, many years ago performed by The National Ballet of Canada. From the back of the balcony, I sat absolutely mesmerized, electrified, completely enchanted. I was in my late teens, but oh, how I longed to be five years old again so that I could run home and beg my parents for ballet lessons! It was breathtaking to experience the magic of Karen Kain and Rex Harrington. That performance awakened something deep within the soul, that still, to this day, makes me yearn to be a child again."

- Patricia HoCoy, Audience Member, 20+ Years 

"I had been dancing seriously for a few years when one of my dance teachers took me to see The National Ballet of Canada's Swan Lake. It was probably the most inspiring thing throughout my years of dancing. The lead roles were danced by Heather Ogden and Guillaume Côté who were oh so perfect together. The Corps de Ballet was also amazing with their beautiful lines and extensions."

- Chrisianna Shui Man Yan, Audience Member