Swan Lake
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Swan Lake Ballet
Nearly 150 years after its premiere, Tchaikovsky’s score still fills every note of this production with drama, longing, and grandeur. This production matches that scale on stage, with hand-painted sets and elaborate costumes created by leading European designers.
The cast brings together dancers trained across more than a dozen countries, led by principal artists from Ukraine — each shaped by a different school of classical technique, now dancing as one company.
A Ballet Built on Precision
Some moments in Swan Lake need no explanation — the shimmering unison of the corps de ballet, or Odile’s thirty-two fouetté turns, spun without a single wasted breath. This is classical technique at its most demanding, danced by artists who trained for years just to make it look effortless.
Principal Dancers
Sergui Zdanschi is an internationally trained principal ballet dancer from Chișinău, Moldova, known for his powerful classical technique, elegant partnering, refined stage presence, and expressive interpretation of leading male roles. A graduate of the National College of Choreography in Chișinău, Sergei has performed across Europe, Asia, and North America, appearing in major classical productions including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Cinderella, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
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Ilona Baitler is a Ukrainian prima ballerina and principal dancer known for her elegant classical technique, expressive artistry, and powerful stage presence. Born in Dnipro, Ukraine, she represents a new generation of ballet artists whose performances combine refined academic training with emotional depth and dramatic clarity. Her repertoire includes leading roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Giselle, Snow White, and The Forest Song.
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Kanat Nadyrbek is an internationally acclaimed principal ballet dancer, choreographer, stage director, and Honored Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic. Born in Balykchy, Kyrgyzstan, he has built a distinguished career across Asia, Europe, Russia, South Korea, the United States, and Canada.
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Ravshan Kyzy Suiumkan is a professional classical ballet dancer from Kyrgyzstan, internationally active as a principal and soloist performer in full-length classical productions. She is recognized for her strong classical technique, expressive stage presence, and versatility across both lyrical and virtuoso repertoire. Her work includes leading roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, as well as participation in international touring ballet projects across Europe and the United Kingdom.
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Corps de Ballet
View the Full Program
From Odette’s first entrance to Odile’s final turn — the full story of how this production came together, told by the people who built it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Swan Lake run?
The performance lasts about two hours and eight minutes in total, including a twenty-minute intermission between the two acts, so it is worth planning your arrival and any dinner plans accordingly.
Is Swan Lake Ballet appropriate for children?
Yes. It is family-friendly and generally recommended for ages three and up. That said, very young children may find the sorcerer’s scenes emotional, so parents should use their own judgment.
How do I buy tickets for Swan Lake?
Tickets are sold through local box offices and official partners such as Ticketmaster. Find your city on our tour schedule page to see show dates near you, compare seating sections, and reserve your seats online.
Is live music used in the performance?
Depending on the venue, this show features either a live orchestra or a professionally mastered recording, and this detail is always noted on each city’s individual event page.
Can I take photos during the ballet?
Photos are welcome in the lobby and during curtain call, so feel free to capture the moment before and after. Photography, video, and flash are not allowed once the curtain rises, out of respect for the dancers on stage.
What should I wear to see Swan Lake?
There is no strict dress code. Most guests choose smart casual or business casual style, though comfortable clothing that respects the occasion of an evening at the theatre is always appropriate.
About Swan Lake
Few titles carry the same instant recognition as Swan Lake. This ballet brings Tchaikovsky’s iconic score to life through fluid, exacting classical choreography, performed by the United European Ballet Company.
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Guests booking tickets for this show can expect hand-painted sets, a rich orchestral score, and dancers trained in the tradition of Petipa and Ivanov. Few works in the repertoire have aged this gracefully, and it remains a timeless choice for a first night at the ballet or a return visit with the whole family.
Here’s what to expect on the night:
- Two acts with one twenty-minute intermission
- Family-friendly, suitable for ages 3 and up
- The full Tchaikovsky score, live or beautifully recorded depending on the venue
- Original choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, still danced today
History
Swan Lake ballet premiered in Moscow in 1877. The version audiences know and love today, however, took shape in 1895, when choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov reimagined the ballet for the Mariinsky Theatre.
Their staging turned Tchaikovsky’s score into a masterwork of symmetry and storytelling, matching the corps de ballet’s rippling formations with a psychologically rich lead role split between Odette and Odile. That 1895 revival is the version companies around the world still perform today, and it set the template every major staging has followed since.
More than a century later, that same structure still shapes this production, which honors the original choreography while adding hand-painted scenery and costuming built for a modern stage. It’s a legacy worth discovering personally.
Synopsis
At its heart, this ballet tells a story of love, betrayal, and sacrifice. Prince Siegfried, celebrating his coming of age, meets Odette, a princess cursed by the sorcerer Rothbart to live as a swan by day and a woman only by night. Only true love can break the spell.
At a royal ball, Rothbart deceives the prince with his daughter Odile, the Black Swan, who mirrors Odette’s beauty but not her heart. Siegfried’s broken promise sets the tragedy in motion, and the ballet closes on one of the most moving finales in the repertoire that still leaves audiences quiet before the applause begins.
Meet the four characters who carry the story:
- Odette — a princess cursed to live as a swan, torn between hope and despair
- Prince Siegfried — a young royal whose choice decides Odette’s fate
- Odile — the Black Swan, Rothbart’s daughter and Odette’s deceptive double
- Von Rothbart — the sorcerer behind the curse
The Music and Choreography
Tchaikovsky composed the score for Swan Lake before The Nutcracker or The Sleeping Beauty, and it remains his most recognizable ballet music. From the wistful oboe theme that opens the lakeside scenes to the triumphant finale, the score carries the emotional weight of the entire evening.
The choreography preserves Petipa and Ivanov’s original patterns, including the synchronized arms of the corps de ballet, Odette’s fragile adagio, and Odile’s demanding sequence of thirty-two fouetté turns. The principal dancers bring their own artistry to these iconic roles, matching Tchaikovsky’s shifting tempos beat for beat, performance after performance.
Costumes, Sets & Design: A Classic Ballet Production
Every staging on this tour features hand-painted scenery, layered tulle costumes, and lighting designed to shift from a moonlit lake to a golden palace ballroom. The visual world is built to match the scale of Tchaikovsky’s music, giving audiences a genuinely classic ballet experience that feels both intimate and grand.
Backstage, an international team of designers and technicians works alongside the dancers to keep every detail true to the story, from the swans’ feathered tutus to Rothbart’s dramatic silhouette. Costume changes are choreographed with the same precision as the dancing itself.
What to Expect at the Performance
This production is built to welcome first-time theatregoers and lifelong ballet fans alike. The storytelling is clear enough for young audience members to follow without earlier knowledge of the ballet, and many guests describe it as their first live performance.
It’s a great fit for:
- Families looking for a special night out
- School groups and dance students
- Dates and anniversaries
- Anyone curious about ballet for the first time
Many families make a tradition of attending together year after year, returning each time the company comes back on tour, often bringing along friends who have never seen a live ballet before.
Tickets & Show Schedule
The Swan Lake ballet tours theatres across the United States and Canada throughout the season, and tickets are available at local box offices and official ticketing partners. Because show dates sell out quickly in many cities, early booking is recommended, especially for families and school groups hoping to sit together.
Find your city, check the schedule, and reserve your seats before they’re gone. Seating options typically range from orchestra and mezzanine to balcony, so it is worth comparing views and pricing before you buy. Group ticket rates and studio partnerships are also available for dance schools bringing students to see this classical ballet production live on stage.
Don’t Miss the Next Performance Near You
Tickets are limited and often sell out in advance. Find your city and secure your seats today.