This presentation is a part of our World Ballet Classics Series knows as “Ballet & Identity Talks with Elena Alexandra“.
In this presentation we will tell you the story of the ballet Swan Lake, its history, music, & choreography. We will show you masterpieces from this ballet featuring the renowned ballet dancer, Ulyana Lopatkina dancing Odette/Odile with her partner, Danila Korsuntsev dancing Prince Siegfried.
Swan Lake is one of the most iconic ballets of all time, with a history and story that has captivated audiences for generations. We delve into the origins of the ballet and its legacy. We explore the tale of Prince Siegfried and his forbidden love for the enchanted swan princess Odette, and the powerful themes of love, betrayal, and redemption that have made the ballet a timeless classic. Check our event page for schedule.
Ulyana Lopatkina
Ulyana Lopatkina is a celebrated Russian prima ballerina with the Mariinsky Theatre, renowned for her expressive, regal style and iconic roles like Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Myrtha in Giselle, graduating from the Vaganova Academy in 1991. In 1994 Lopatkina made her debut as Odetta-Odile in “Swan Lake.” and become a principal dancer in 1995. She is known for her elegant lines, long limbs, and dramatic interpretation, earning numerous accolades.
A great dancer of the present-day who has come to embody the concept of “Russian ballet”.
— Kommersant
…Every inch of her incredible, pliable body falls into the most perfect shapes… More than any other dancer she reveals both the absolute rigour of her training and an instinctive dignity and musicality that is all her own.
— The Telegraph
Danila Korsuntsev
Danila Korsuntsev is a renowned Russian ballet soloist and principal dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg. He was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (then part of the USSR) and grew up in a family connected to ballet; his father was a leading soloist at the Navoi Bolshoi Theatre in Tashkent.
He has also been recognized with awards including Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation (2008) and prizes from international ballet competitions (e.g., Maya International Competition, Paris International Ballet Competition).
The Story
Swan Lake tells the tragic love story of Prince Siegfried and Princess Odette, who is cursed by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart to be a swan by day and human only at night; the spell can only be broken by true love, but the Prince is tricked into pledging his love to Von Rothbart’s daughter, Odile (the Black Swan), leading to betrayal, heartbreak, and ultimately, the lovers’ tragic union in death to defeat the sorcerer and his spell.
Key Characters
- Prince Siegfried: A prince who longs for love and must choose a bride.
- Odette (White Swan): A princess cursed to be a swan; she embodies purity and true love.
- Baron Von Rothbart: The evil sorcerer who casts the curse.
- Odile (Black Swan): Von Rothbart’s daughter, who impersonates Odette to deceive the Prince.
The Story in Brief
- The Curse: On his birthday, Prince Siegfried is told to find a bride. While hunting, he encounters Odette by a lake, who reveals she and her companions are swans due to Von Rothbart’s curse, which will only break if someone vows true love to her.
- The Deception: At a grand ball, Von Rothbart arrives with his daughter, Odile, disguised as Odette (the Black Swan). Siegfried, enchanted by Odile, pledges his love to her, unknowingly breaking his vow to Odette.
- The Tragedy: Siegfried realizes his mistake and rushes back to the lake. In different versions, Odette and Siegfried either die together in the lake, breaking the curse through their sacrifice, or remain eternally separated, with Odette forever a swan. The common theme is a tragic end for the lovers, a powerful representation of good versus evil and idealized love versus worldly temptation.
Themes
- Love, betrayal, and sacrifice.
- The struggle between good (White Swan) and evil (Black Swan).
- The conflict between idealized love and worldly temptation.
CREDITS / INFORMATION
Photos
Photo on flyer: “Ulyana Lopatkina and Danila Korsuntsev” – photographer Mark Olich (https://balletthebestphotographs.wordpress.com/2025/06/04/ulyana-lopatkina-and-danila-korsuntsev-2/)
Featured img: Ulyana Lopatkina and Danila Korsuntsev at Royal Opera House (https://www.gramilano.com/2011/08/critics-round-up-mariinsky-at-covent-garden-swan-lake/)
Photo: Ulyana Lopatkina by Zotov https://prim.mariinsky.ru/en/company/persons/ballet/ballet_mt/ulyana_lopatkina/
Great Photos of Ulyana by Sasha Gouliaev photography
Videos
Swan Lake (Čajkovskij) | Mariinsky ballet 2006 | Ulyana Lopatkina is BLACK SWAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdCtRziCjVk&t=46s
Uliana LOPATKINA (3) Swan Lake Odette Variation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRuYayKkEo&t=6s
Reviews
Spotlight: Ulyana Lopatkina https://www.alisonsstudioofdance.com/single-post/2017/07/08/spotlight-ulyana-lopatkina
Articles
article in Russiapedia “Prominent Russians: Ulyana Lopatkina” by Anna Yudina, RT https://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/opera-and-ballet/ulyana-lopatkina
article in ArtsDesk.com by Ismene Brown: “Ulyana Lopatkina: The beanpole who became the soul of Russia” https://www.theartsdesk.com/dance/ulyana-lopatkina-beanpole-who-became-soul-russia
article in Pointe Magazine “Uliana Lopatkina on Her Iconic “Dying Swan“: A Spiritual Transformation – 2016 issue of Pointe – https://pointemagazine.com/uliana-lopatkina-ballet/#gsc.tab=0 – Uliana Lopatkina shares the thought process behind her iconic interpretation.
About Danila Korsuntsev from https://www.mariinsky.ru/company/ballet_mt_men/korsuntsev/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
