Ballet BC is proud to bring The National Ballet of China’s Swan Lake to the Queen E Theatre from February 27 to March 2, for four evening performances.
Swan Lake, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1876, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse and her doomed love for Prince Siegfried.
Founded in 1959, The National Ballet of China uniquely fuses western classical ballet with Chinese culture by developing many of its own works that represent China’s varied characteristics. This will be the Company’s premiere Canadian production of Swan Lake, showcasing the Company’s solid foundation in Russian-style classical ballet. The strong ensemble is wonderfully suited to the extreme demands of the classical style.
Noteworthy are the white swan-maidens of the ballet, a superb example of the training, disciplined intelligence, and technical skills that highlight the stylistic brilliance of this production. The ardours and sense of mystery inherent in Swan Lake are beautifully framed by Peter Farmer’s darkly brooding set designs, Han Jiang’s lighting and Galina Solovyeva’s gorgeous costumes.
“Historically Swan Lake presents a monumental undertaking for a company, pushing dancers to the limits of their technical and artistic skill,” says Ballet BC Artistic Director Emily Molnar. “The magnificent sets, lighting and costumes of The National Ballet of China’s production complement the ravishing flow of choreography and storytelling that highlight the talented artists of this exceptional ballet company. Presented by Teck, Ballet BC is honoured to introduce The National Ballet of China in Swan Lake to Vancouver on its first ever Canadian tour.”
According to Mme. Feng Ying, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of China and considered the great Chinese ballerina, “I would like to express our thanks to Ballet BC for inviting us to Vancouver in February 2013 during Chinese New Year. I truly hope that Vancouver audiences will enjoy our Swan Lake.”
Ballet BC Presents the National Ballet of China’s Swan Lake
Dates: February 27 to March 2, 8 pm
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 649 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $55 to $110 (plus service charges); available online or via phoning Ticketmaster at 1.855.985.2787 (855.985.ARTS)
Combining classical integrity with a contemporary sensibility, Ballet BC is a company of 17 talented dancers from Canada and around the world committed to the ballet of today. Solidly grounded in the rigour and artistry of classical ballet, with an emphasis on innovation and the immediacy of the 21st century, the company presents a distinct and diverse repertoire of the most sought-after Canadian and international contemporary ballet choreography.