English Youth Ballet - Swan Lake

About

English Youth Ballet's Swan Lake follows the traditional storyline, but with particular emphasis on the rivalry between the seductive, evil Black Swan and the beautiful but vulnerable White Swan as they compete for the affections of the Prince. A powerful new adaptation of one of the world's most cherished classical ballets starring English Youth Ballet's stunning international principals and 100 talented young dancers from the local area.
Now in its 21st year, English Youth Ballet provides professional performance experience for talented young dancers. It has built a national reputation for the quality of both its full-length classical ballets and mixed bill programmes, winning The Stage Award – for special achievement in regional theatre. The opportunity to watch English Youth Ballet is a unique experience; sell-out audiences are treated to beautiful international principal artists sharing the stage with the top up-and-coming talent from the local area (aged 8 -18). EYB's large cast ensures the world's favourite ballets are performed with the scale and grandeur which was originally intended. There are now ex-EYB young performers in some of the world's best companies – including the Royal Ballet, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and Joffrey Ballet.

English Youth Ballet's acclaimed production of Swan Lake is set in 1895 Imperial Russia in the Mariinsky Theatre--where the Mariinsky Ballet are preparing for a production of Swan Lake. Two unlikely lovers meet: Odette, a dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet and Prince Sergei, son to the Tsar. The Tsar wants to ensure that Prince Sergei does not marry beneath his station, while the tyrannical ballet director, Baron Von Rothbart, will do anything to secure a royal patronage for his ballet company, manipulating his own daughter, Odile, to compete for the affections of the Prince.

The choreography has been created by director Janet Lewis and her team of international principal artists and teachers who coach the young dancers. The music by Tchaikovsky features the famous Dance of the Cygnets, the Black Swan pas de deux and Swan Lake's famous Overture. Stunning stage designs for the ballet are by Sebastian Petit and the costume designs are by Keith Bish.