American Ballet Theatre Swan Lake

Choreography by Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
March 27-30, 2008
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

American Ballet Theatre (ABT), America’s National Ballet Company™, led by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, returns to the Dance at the Music Center series at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion March 27-30 with its full-evening production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. ABT’s Swan Lake features choreography by Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, set and costumes by Zack Brown, and lighting by Duane Schuler. The Wall Street Journal says ABT’s Swan Lake “glides to the forefront of stagings all over the world. The fabled lake of the swans has risen into view, inspiring awe for its mystery and magic.”

The first production of Swan Lake, with choreography by Julius (Wentzel) Reisinger, received its World Premiere by the Russian Imperial Ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow on March 4, 1877, danced by Pelagia (Paulina) Karpakova (Odette-Odile) and Stanislav Gillert (Prince Siegfried). Swan Lake as we know it, with the Petipa/Ivanov choreography, was given its first full-length production at the Maryinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, on January 27, 1895, with Pierina Legnani as Odette-Odile and Pavel Gerdt as Prince Siegfried.

American Ballet Theatre (then Ballet Theatre) first performed Act II of Swan Lake, with choreography by Anton Dolin after Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa, at the Center Theatre, in New York City on January 16, 1940, with Patricia Bowman as Odette and Anton Dolin as Prince Siegfried. Mr. Dolin also choreographed the grand pas de deux from Act III as the Black Swan Pas de Deux, which was given at the Metropolitan Opera House on October 23, 1944 with Tamara Toumanova as Odile and Anton Dolin.

Act II of David Blair’s staging for ABT was first given at the New York State Theater on January 18, 1966 with Lupe Serrano and Royes Fernandez. The first performance of the complete ballet staged by David Blair was given by ABT at the Civic Opera House, Chicago on February 16, 1967 with Nadia Nerina as Odette-Odile and Royes Fernandez as Prince Siegfried. It received its first New York performance at the New York State Theater on May 9, 1967 with Toni Lander and Bruce Marks. A re-staged production of Swan Lake received its American Ballet Theatre premiere in Washington, D. C. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 1981 with Martine van Hamel as Odette-Odile and Kevin McKenzie as Prince Siegfried.

A new production of Swan Lake with choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa and additional choreography by Mikhail Baryshnikov was given its world premiere on December 2, 1988 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, California, danced by Susan Jaffe (Odette-Odile) and Andris Liepa (Prince Siegfried). This production received its New York Premiere on May 8, 1989 at the Metropolitan Opera House, danced by Susan Jaffe (Odette-Odile) and Ross Stretton (Prince Siegfried).

Swan Lake was revived, with staging by Kevin McKenzie and lighting by Thomas Skelton, on May 21, 1993 at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, danced by Susan Jaffe as Odette-Odile and Jeremy Collins as Prince Siegfried.

The World Premiere of this new production was given on March 24, 2000 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D. C., danced by Julie Kent (Odette-Odile) and Angel Corella (Prince Siegfried).

The New York Premiere of this production was given on May 19, 2000 at the Metropolitan Opera House, danced by Susan Jaffe (Odette-Odile) and Jose Manuel Carreo (Prince Siegfried).

About American Ballet Theatre

American Ballet Theatre is recognized as one of the great dance companies in the world. Few ballet companies equal ABT for its combination of size, scope and outreach. Recognized as a living national treasure since its founding in 1940, ABT annually tours the United States, performing for more than 600,000 people, and is the only major cultural institution to do so. It has also made more than 15 international tours to 42 countries as perhaps the most representative American ballet company and has been sponsored by the State Department of the United States on many of these engagements.

In October 1992, former American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Kevin McKenzie was appointed Artistic Director. Mr. McKenzie, steadfast in his vision of ABT as "American," is committed to maintaining the Company's vast repertoire, and to bringing the art of dance theater to the great stages of the world.

When American Ballet Theatre was launched in 1939, the aim was to develop a repertoire of the best ballets from the past and to encourage the creation of new works by gifted young choreographers, wherever they might be found. Under the direction of Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith from 1940 to 1980, the Company more than fulfilled that aim. The repertoire, perhaps unmatched in the history of ballet, includes all of the great full-length ballets of the nineteenth century, such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle, the finest works from the early part of this century, such as Apollo, Les Sylphides, Jardin aux Lilas and Rodeo, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces such as Airs, Push Comes to Shove and Duets. In acquiring such an extraordinary repertoire, ABT has commissioned works by all of the great choreographic geniuses of the 20th century: George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille and Twyla Tharp, among others.

In keeping with the Company's long-standing commitment to bringing the finest in dance to the widest international audience, ABT has recently enjoyed triumphant successes with engagements in Tokyo, London, Paris, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Seoul.

In the Fall of 2000, American Ballet Theatre made its first visit to China, appearing in both Shanghai and Hong Kong. The Company also appeared in Taipei and Singapore for the first time. Over its 65-year history, the Company has appeared in a total of 126 cities in 42 countries. ABT has also appeared in all 50 states of the United States. In 2006, American Ballet Theatre was recognized by the United States Congress as America’s National Ballet Company.