Swan Lake

The ballet classic

White tutus, a compelling love story, and 'goosebumps music': no production symbolizes classical ballet more than Swan Lake . One hundred and fifty years after Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote his masterpiece, it still holds true: this is a ballet you must see.

When Tchaikovsky composed his iconic Swan Lake music in 1877, it was not a success. It was not until 1895 that the piece became popular, thanks to the choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov . Since then, surviving parts of this choreography have been picked up and adapted worldwide. This includes choreographer Rudi van Dantzig , former artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet, who created the 'most beautiful Swan Lake ever' in 1988, according to a leading critic.

Love and deception

Rudi van Dantzig created a moving, human ballet with a great emotional impact. Love and deception take center stage . The white swan Odette. It embodies simplicity and sincerity, the ideals of the young Prince Siegfried. He swears fidelity to her but is nevertheless seduced by the black swan Odile. A decision with which he not only betrays and loses Odette, but also his own ideals. With all the consequences that entails.

On fire

Van Dantzig's Swan Lake is also successful thanks to the contributions of multi-talented Toer van Schayk . He choreographed the lively folk dances of the third act, which set Odile's entrance ablaze. He also drew inspiration from paintings by seventeenth-century artists for his beautiful sets and impressive costumes. 'Every costume is a magnificent jewel in itself,' according to de Volkskrant .