Cheers And Tears As United Ukrainian Ballet Performs “Swan Lake”
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ben Vella | Instagram
FEATURED: Swan Lake by the United Ukrainian Ballet | Website
When it comes to the classical ballet, many consider it feminine, exclusive and elitist or find the male dancers’ bulges distracting! But this magical art form uses exquisite grace and incredible physical strength to tell its stories, its performers seemingly effortlessly floating though air.
Originating in the 15th Century during the Italian Renaissance, ballet is still a major influence on many contemporary dance styles. Along the way, the classical ballet cannon has come to include Romeo And Juliet, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Don Quixote and Swan Lake. A production of the latter by the United Ukrainian Ballet is currently touring Australia.
Considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is a lot of interest in this company and this production. Also noteworthy is that Swan Lake was composed by Tchaikovsky, a gay Russian.
The story of Swan Lake surrounds Prince Siegfried who, while out hunting, falls for the Swan Queen, Odette. Swearing his undying love for her, she can only take her human form between midnight and dawn because of a curse placed on her by the sorcerer Baron von Rothbart.
Over the years, different versions of the story have evolved, particularly with alternate endings. In 1950 the otherwise tragic endings, involving drownings, suicide and even a swan shot by an arrow, took on a more “happily ever after” conclusion. Given the choreography and story subtext, the finale is still just as compelling.
The classic, Dance Of The Little Swans (or Danse des petits cygnes) where four linked-armed ballerinas ‘trot’ back and forward in unison is so intricate and synced it will have you on the edge of your seat.
As for the male dancers, their physiques rival any Olympic athlete and, at times, their leaps seem to defy gravity – without a wire harness in sight! The principal male cast includes Oleksii Kniazkov and Fedir Zarodyshev, while Yelyzaveta Barkalova and Kateryna Chebykina play the female leads. The soloist dancers include Daria Manoilo and Oleksiy Gryshun with Pavlo Zurnadzhi, who plays the delightful court jester, connecting well with the audience.
But it’s the finale that truly gives this production an overwhelming highlight when, during the curtain call, the cast sing the Ukrainian national anthem with flags raised high. Needless to say the audience cheered loudly; some even cried.
The company states, “Let this tour of Swan Lake in its own way repudiate the injustice, be a defender of sovereignty and offer hope for peace in the very near future.”
Watching these incredible dancers – displaced due to the war – fills the soul, but also provides an insight into why this form of dance is so esteemed and acclaimed. Everyone should see the ballet at least once in their lifetime, and what better production to see than Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.
For tickets: swanlake.com.au
