Swan Lake

Who does not love the ballet and all of the grace and beauty that surrounds the music of the dance? I have always wanted to see a ballet and was awe struck when I saw this small preview of the ballet "Swan Lake" on You Tube.

Swan Lake was one of the most popular ballets from the 19th century. This classic fairytale filled with princes, princesses, evil, and true love is about Prince Siegfried's coming-of-age and the his love for Odetta, a princess who lives a life of a swan after an evil magician, Von Rothbart cast a spell on her and other maidens. She and the maidens live as swans during the day and humans at night. The only way the spell can be broken is for a good man to pledge his love for her.

As the story goes, Prince Siegfried has come to the time in his life where he is being pressured to select a wife. After meeting Odetta, he cannot forget her and just to appease his Princess Mother, dances with a few of the eligible maidens. Evil trickery appears once again when the magician, Von Rothbart appears as a nobleman with his daughter Odile, made to look like Odetta. Using instructions from her father on how to begile the prince, and her remarkable resemblance to Odetta, he falls for this trickery and pledges his love to Odile believing she is Odetta which makes the spell on Odette permanent. Odette, watching from the window of the castle flees. Siegfried sees her and runs from the hall realizing he has made a terrible mistake.

The ending stays true to form as Odetta tries to drown herself in her human form so she will not remain a swan forever but is prevented by the other maidens. Prince Siegfried arrives and begs forgiveness which she in turns gives just as Von Rothbart appears and demands that the Prince fulfill his vow to marry Odile. Prince Siegfried refuses and vows to die with Odetta rather than marry Odile and Von Rothbart flees in the face of such selfless love. Odetta and Prince Siegfried drown themselves in the lake and Von Rothbart dies in agony and his castle collapses. When dawn arrives the Swan Maidens are now released from their spell and bow before the lover's souls which fly heavenward over the lake.

Sigh, such a beautiful story with the ballet maidens fluttering around as swans and the ballerina's movements and dancing telling the story. I hope you have enjoyed this tale and enjoy the video I have below. Have you ever been to a ballet? What did you enjoy most about it?




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