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Updated Safety Protocols
Proof of vaccination is no longer required but for everyone’s safety the mask requirement will remain in place for all performances of Swan Lake. Please see full details here.
Please note theatrical haze, dry ice, open flame and stroboscopic/flashing light effects will be used in performances of Swan Lake.
Set to Tchaikovsky’s glittering score, Swan Lake is the epitome of classical ballet, beloved the world over for its lyricism, musicality and brilliant choreography and for a love story that is both symbolic and intimate. Artistic Director Emerita Karen Kain gives renewed emphasis to the emotion and humanity of Swan Lake in a new staging inspired by Erik Bruhn’s landmark version but in her own bold vision. A gesture of love to a company and artform that has been her home for over 50 years.
One night in a faraway kingdom, the young woman Odette joins her friends at a lakeside clearing that, unbeknownst to them, is the lair of an evil predator, Rothbart, part man and part bird. Rothbart grasps Odette in his enormous wings and casts a spell enslaving her to live by day as a swan, returning to human form only at night. A pledge of true love and fidelity will set her free. But when the kingdom’s eligible royal, Siegfried, falls in love with Odette many years later, Rothbart conjures a spectacular trick to keep them apart – Odile, a ravishing imitation of Odette.
Article About Swan Lake & the National Ballet
Karen Kain joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1969 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 1971. Over the course of her dancing career, she collaborated with top choreographers, toured internationally and worked on stage and in film as a guest artist. Karen led the National Ballet as Artistic Director with great success from 2005, until she stepped down in June 2021 and was named Artistic Director Emerita.
The late 19th century Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky created some of the most popular works in the classical repertoire, particularly his three full-length scores for ballet: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. His body of work includes full-length operas, symphonies and concertos.
Article About Tchaikovsky's Score
Directed and Staged by:
Karen Kain, C.C., LL.D., D.Litt., O.Ont.
Choreography:
Karen Kain, Christopher Stowell and Robert Binet after Erik Bruhn, Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa
Music:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake, Opus 20 (1875-76)
Set, Property and Costume Designer:
Gabriela Týlešová
Lighting Designer:
Bonnie Beecher
Projection Designer:
Sean Nieuwenhuis
Design Associate, Wardrobe:
Marjory Fielding
Design Assistant, Wardrobe:
Allie Marshall
Design Associate, Set & Properties:
Joshua Quinlan
Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, Toronto, Friday, June 10, 2022
Produced and commissioned by The National Ballet of Canada.
Lead philanthropic support for Swan Lake is provided by The Walter Carsen New Creations Fund, with generous underwriting from Richard M. Ivey, C.C., an anonymous friend of the National Ballet, Susan Scace & Arthur Scace, C.M., Q.C., Pamela and Paul Austin and The P. Austin Family Foundation, The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, Nancy Pencer, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Lawrence Schafer Foundation, Gretchen Ross & Donald Ross, O.C., Anne-Marie Canning, Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Tim & Frances Price, The Volunteer Committee of The National Ballet of Canada, Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M. and Aaron & Heather Regent. Additional support provided by The Producers’ Circle.
The Producers’ Circle: Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & Marshal Stearns, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, The Thor E. and Nicole Eaton Family Charitable Foundation, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Kevin Garland & Roger Garland, C.M., Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, The William & Nona Heaslip Foundation, Anna McCowan Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Jerry & Joan Lozinski, The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Harry & Lillian Seymour Family Foundation, Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan and The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation.
The National Ballet also acknowledges support for Swan Lake provided by Sylvie Allard & Brian O’Keefe, Judi Conacher, Sherry & Edward Drew, The H. John McDonald Foundation and Julie Medland.
The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following:
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