When Swan Lake is mentioned, the story of an enchanted romance between a cursed maiden and a prince comes to mind. For some, it may bring back reminiscent memories of watching the Barbie Swan Lake movie or The Ugly Duckling. The version created by the Los Angeles Ballet (LAB) has been so popular, it just closed its twelfth season.

Throughout this month, LAB has restaged Swan Lake in various theaters throughout the Los Angeles (LA) area performing one sold out show after another. Showcasing a Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky classic, LAB founders and choreographers, Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen, add onto the works of famous choreography duo, Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa, whose choreography, according to the Daily Mail, “saved” Swan Lake. Ever since their original partnership in 1895,  Ivanov’s and Petipa’s choreography has been performed continuously due to its genius artistry and unique but difficult pieces, making it officially the most recognized piece in the ballet world.  Demonstrating their Balanchine repertory, LAB weaves in intricate staging and style to this classic work. Based on Russian folklore, Swan Lake first premiered in 1877. However, Ivanov and Petipa have well replaced the original and their well-known work compared to the original would be almost unrecognizable.

In the plot, a dashing Prince Siegfried has reached a favorable age to marry, and his mother wastes no time in convincing him to. Instead, he resorts to hunting as a source of relief and denial. Unexpectedly, he spots a swan, and just as he is about to shoot it, he witnesses it transform into a fair maiden. Similar to other fairy tales, he experiences love at first sight. However, the maiden reveals that she’s been cursed and is bound to be a swan during the day. Of course, Prince Siegfried is determined to break the spell and rescue his fair lady. Along the way, the characters experience various challenges.

As LA’s only professional ballet company, LAB has become the world-class destination for prestigious Balanchine dancers outside of New York. Kenta Shimizu, who plays Prince Siegfried, demonstrates the difficult Balanchine technique as he delivers a “detailed and thoughtful interpretation” (LA Times) throughout the show while dancing with a relevantly new cast. LAB, a remarkably talented company, has done multiple Balanchine pieces in the past and is constantly reinventing itself. Throughout the years, its work has grown famous due to its optimistic mindset on touring within the LA area to attract a loyal audience. Astonishingly, despite a few critics, the company site alleges their audiences have grown “seven-fold” and continue to grow as demonstrated by their sold-out shows. LAB has done a great job in creating this remarkable show and we hope to see more creative shows in the future.