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Columbia City Ballet Presents the Full-Length Swan Lake at the Koger Center March 9th and 10th Graceful swans, a dashing prince and a moonlit lake – get swept away in the world of breathtaking beauty that is Columbia City Ballet’s adaptation of the quintessential classical ballet, Swan Lake, March 9th and 10th at the Koger Center for the Arts. Swan Lake is considered the greatest classical ballet of all time, as well as one of the most technically demanding. Columbia City Ballet has a long history with Swan Lake; it was the first full-length ballet the Company ever staged. In 1965, then-Artistic Director Ann Brodie danced the challenging role of Odette/Odile at Drayton Hall. This year’s production is the product of a 42-year history with Swan Lake, and 2007 is the Company’s seventh year bringing this classic to Columbia. “Swan Lake is the ultimate classical ballet,” said Executive & Artistic Director William Starrett. “Columbia City Ballet has a long history of being committed to the full-length classic ballets, and this is the epitome of classical ballet. Even if you’re not a balletomane, Swan Lake is something that everyone should experience, especially when it’s in your own backyard!” Ballerina Victoria Cholkas, whose performances have been called “vibrant” and “danced with tireless energy” by The State newspaper, will dance the demanding role of Odette/Odile at all three performances at the Koger Center. With its fantastical plot filled with romance, sorcery and betrayal, Swan Lake offers dancers the ultimate challenge of a dual role – Odette, trapped in the body of a white swan while awaiting an oath of true love to set her free, and Odile, the temptress daughter of Baron Von Rothbart, who plots the to destroy the true love between Odette and Prince Siegfried. George Balanchine, founder of New York City Ballet, once said, “To succeed in Swan Lake is to become overnight a ballerina.” This is Cholkas’ third time performing the role; she performed as Odette/Odile in Columbia City Ballet’s 1995 and 2000 productions. Premier Danseur Peter Kozak will take the stage as Prince Siegfried, Odette’s ill-fated true love, and dancer Tory Morton will dance the role of the evil Baron Von Rothbart. Kozak has performed the role of Siegfried with Cleveland Ballet and as a guest artist many times; this is his third time performing it with Columbia City Ballet. Company favorites Principal Dancer Regina Willoughby and Kerrie-Anne Dunn will perform as the Lead Swans, and Principal Dancer Jose Serrano and Soloist Kathryn Smoak will dance the Neapolitan duet. While Swan Lake is beloved by audiences and has been performed to critical acclaim throughout its 130-year history, surprisingly, the ballet was a flop at its 1877 premiere. The responsibility for the disastrous production probably lies with mediocre choreographer Julius Reisinger, a man who only rates a footnote in ballet history as the choreographer of an unpopular Swan Lake. Tchaikovsky was paid a modest fee of 800 rubles (only $30 in today’s money) for the score, full of rich melodies, lush orchestrations and grandeur. After Tchaikovsky’s death in 1893, his works enjoyed a resurgence of interest. A gala was planned in his honor at the Bolshoi, and a new Swan Lake, choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov (the men who also gave us Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote), was presented to thundering critical and popular success, cementing Swan Lake in repertoires around the world. Columbia City Ballet will perform Swan Lake at the Koger Center March 9th and 10th. Performance times are:
Friday, March 9th at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 10th at 3:00 and 7:30 pm
Swan Lake is presented by Van Jean Womenswear. The 2006-2007 season sponsor is Time Warner Cable, and the season media sponsor is The State newspaper. Tickets are available at the Capitol Tickets Box Office, by calling (803) 251-2222 or online at www.capitoltickets.com. For more information about Swan Lake and Columbia City Ballet, call (803) 799-7605 or visit www.columbiacityballet.com.
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