The Australian Ballet: Swan Lake

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of The Australian Ballet, artistic director David Hallberg has commissioned a reinvented staging of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, Swan Lake.

Considered one of the great ballets for its evocative score, themes of good and evil, challenging roles for dancers – particularly the dual role of Odette/Odile, where a single dancer portrays both the innocent Odette and the cunning Odile – as well as it’s striking choreography, Swan Lake has been considered the high-water mark of the form since debuting in Moscow in 1877. It’s one of the foundational works of classical ballet.

It’s also played a recurring role in the history of The Australian Ballet. Inspired by Anne Woolliams’ 1977 production, this new creation marks the centrepiece of the company’s 60th anniversary celebrations. In the hands of Hallberg, and set to Tchaikovsky’s enduring score, the new adaptation aims to explore the ballet’s themes of yearning, betrayal and love by leaning into the technical excellence and power of the art form itself. Along with new costumes and sets, The Australian Ballet’s Swan Lake promises a completely fresh look at the masterpiece, and in doing so showcases the company’s commitment to classical repertoire.

Swan Lake will tour nationally with Melbourne sold out. Performances: October 7–14 at The Festival Theatre, SA; October 24–28 at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, QLD; and December 1–20 at Sydney Opera House, NSW.

See more details and book tickets.

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