The Secret meanings of Swan Lake - a short documentary

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Hello dancers! If you like my videos then feel free to explore our official website (Ballet's Secret Code) for lots (LOTS) more! www.balletsecretcode.com/ And you can watch the documentary film free right here on youtube: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHi3ZZpte62GrKM Also, if you find my work useful and would like to donate something to help the cause (of any amount at all) then you can PayPal us a donation to: [e-mail] We really really appreciate it! Lastly - here is the full list of videos available on our website. We worked really hard on them. Enjoy :) Monday: 1 - Assemblé Cecchetti 2 - Commentary 3 - Adage; Coupé et fouetté 4 - Commentary 5 - Temps levé, chassé, coupé, fouetté, posé, assemblé, entrechat trois, en avant et en arrière 6 - Commentary 7 - Développé croisé avec relevé, glissade, entrechat six de côté 8 - Commentary 9 - Demi - contretemps, entrechat six de côté (en diagonale) followed by pas de bourrée entrechat six en tournant (autour de la salle) 10 - Commentary Tuesday: 1 - Adage; Developpé fouetté Cecchetti 2 - Commentary 3 - Adage - Pas de chaconne Cecchetti 4 - Commentary 5 - Adage - Tour en dedans pirouette renversé développé à la seconde 6 - Commentary 7 - Pas de bourrée, dégagé, petits battements, dégagé, fouetté, jeté, chassé, pas de chat 8 - Commentary 9 - Relevé, petits battements, posé, petits battements, pas de bourrée, pas de bourrée avec allongée 10 - Commentary 11 - Jeté battement, rond de jambe sauté, etc. 12 - Commentary 13 - Pas de bourrée, posé, fouetté to arabesque, tombé, pas de chat 14 - Commentary 15 - Douze ballonnés, piqués, tombés, pas de bourrée 16 - Commentary 17 - Jeté, petits battements, deux ballonnés en avant 18 - Commentary 19 - Jeté, petits battements, deux ballonnés en arrière 20 - Commentary Wednesday: 1 - Adage; Pas de la Mascotte 2 - Commentary 3 - Jeté rond de jambe sauté, deux fois, jeté, trois ronds de jambe sautés 4 - Commentary 5 - Salvo - Temps levé développé, temps levé fouetté, jeté, gargouillade volée, deux jetés, etc. 6 - Commentary 7 - Muriel - Temps levé développé, temps levé fouetté, jeté, gargouillade volée, deux jetés, etc. 8 - Commentary 9 - Deux (slow) gargouillades en - dehors, deux (quick) gargouillades en - dehors, etc. 10 - Commentary 11 - Ronds de jambe relevé retombé, etc. 12 - Commentary 13 - Demi - contretemps, rond de jambe relevé en dedans, jeté devant allongé à l’arabesque, etc. 14 - Commentary 15 - Coupé dessus en tournant, septs ronds de jambe en tournant en-dehors, etc. 16 - Commentary 17 - Full contretemps, assemblé dessus, ronds de jambe sauté, réleve en attitude, etc. 18 - Commentary 19 - Double rond de jambe sauté en dehors, posé en avant, etc. 20 - Commentary Thursday: 1 - Adage -Pas de l’Alliance 2 - Commentary 3 - Glissade derrière, jeté to arabesque croisée, dégagé en tournant, entrechat six 4 - Commentary 5 - Jeté, relevé, posé, coupé, cinq fois (with ending) 6 - Commentary 6B - (Additional observation) 7 - Glissade derrière, jeté à l’arabesque croisée, etc. 8 - Commentary 9 - Pas de bourrée, jeté en attitude, quatre fois etc. 10 - Commentary 11 - Pas de bourrée couru grand jeté en tournant, pas de bourrée couru, fouetté sauté en tournant dans 1ère arabesque 12 - Commentary Friday: 1 - Adage; Glissade Cecchetti 2 - Commentary 3 - Adage; Glissade de Mami 4 - Commentary 5 - Glissade cabriole devant, glissade cabriole derrière, etc. 6 - Commentary 7 - Brisé volé en avant, brisé volé en arrière, grand pas de basque, entrechat trois 8 - Commentary 9 - Pas de basque battu, etc. 10 - Commentary 11 - Posé, cabriole devant, trois fois, pas de bourrée dessus à la quatrième arabesque allongée 12 - Commentary 13 - Entrechat quatre, entrechat quatre volé, deux fois, trois entrechats quatres, entrechat six 14 - Commentary 15 - Brisé dessus, cabriole devant fermée, entrechat quatre, entrechat trois, brisé volé en avant, cabriole fouetté, jeté battu, cabriole derrière fermée 16 - Commentary 17 - Pointework Observations - (with Emma Moran) 18 - Pointework Observations (with Madeline Squire as a Student) Saturday: 1 - Adage - Six relevés 2 - Commentary 3 - Adage -Deux grands ronds de jambe en l’air avec arabesque 4 - Commentary 5 - Fouetté sauté à six temps en arrière 6 - Commentary 7 - Coupé sauté, ballonné, jeté en tournant, posé, jeté, posé, jeté 8 - Commentary 9 - Temps levé, chassé en arrière deux fois, temps levé posé deux fois, jeté élancé à l’attitude, pas de bourrée renversé, assemblé coupé derrière, entrechat six 10 - Commentary 11 - Temps levé, chassé croisé, temps levé en arabesque croisée, coupé dessus, ballonné, grand jeté en tournant, posé 12 - Commentary 13 - Additional steps for men - Deux temps levés, chassés en arrière, assemblé devant, double tour en l’air 14 - Commentary 15 - Commentary only - Pas de l’ange (additional steps for men) En Diagonale: 1 - Pas de bourrée en dedans, jeté, fouetté en tournant en dedans, développé à l’arabesque 2 - Commentary 3 - Coupé fouetté, coupé fouetté en tournant, coupé, pas de basque, tour en attitude renversé 4 - Commentary 5 - Pas de bourrée en tournant, coupé trois temps levés en 4ème arabesque en tournant, etc. 6 - Commentary 7 - Temps levé chassé, deux fois, deux tours en dehors (with arm movement and renversé) 8 - Commentary 9 - Additional steps for men - Double tour en l’air, chassé en arabesque, glissade, cabriole etc. 10 - Commentary Barre: 1 - Pliés 2 - Commentary 3 - Pliés - Additional Summary 4 - Battements tendus, relevés and dégagés 5 - Commentary 6 - Ronds de jambe à terre avec ronds de jambe jetés 7 - Ronds de jambe à terre - Commentary - Muriel 8 - Holding the arms in à la seconde - Commentary 9 - Battements frappés 10 - Commentary - Salvo 11 - Commentary- Muriel 12 - Petits battements 13 - Petits battements - Commentary - Muriel 14 - Ronds de jambe en l’air 15 - Ronds de jambe en l’air - Commentary- Muriel 16 - Adage movements - Commentary 17 - Grands battements & battements balancés 18 - Commentary - Salvo 19 - Commentary - Muriel 20 - Value of the Cecchetti Barre 21 - Barre Summary Centre Practice & Pirouettes: 1 - First set of Ports de bras - Salvo 2 - Second set of Ports de bras - Muriel 3 - Commentary 4 - First set of Ports de bras & grands battements - Muriel 5 - Commentary 6 - Battements tendus & dégagés 7 - Commentary 8 - Ronds de jambe à terre 9 - Commentary 10 - Battements frappés & petits battements (with 2nd ending) 11 - Commentary 12 - Grande préparation pour pirouette en dedans (in 1st arabesque and on the knee) - Muriel 13 - Commentary 14 - Grande préparation pour pirouettes en dedans - Salvo 15 - Commentary 16 - Pirouettes en dehors sur le cou-de-pied 17 - Commentary 18 - Deux tours en-dehors, rond de jambe à l’attitude croisée, etc. 19 - Commentary 20 - Série de coupé, rond de jambe, pas de bourrée renversée 21 - Commentary Interviews with Katharine Kanter: 1 - Cecchetti - Why take on the challenge? 2 - Muriel Valtat - interview 3 - Salvatore Nicolosi - interview 4 - Muriel Valtat & Julie Cronshaw - interview 5 - George Massey - interview 6 - Morta Grigaliūnaitė - interview 7 - Florence and the Hamlyn School 8 - Nicoletta Santoro - interview 9 - Alessandra Alberti - interview 10 - Elisa Corsini - interview www.balletsecretcode.com/

[@deborahjweaver2499]

Yes, I agree. Swan Lake is really about the Prince, his hero's quest. And the divine geometry in Act II is no accident. Such a beautiful documentary, made with such love. Thank you.

[@nihilanth2705]

G A Y

[@teriputitinreverse]

aint no way

[@sunnygummybear4621]

I am so grateful to have stumbled upon this video, Swan Lake has been my favorite ballet since I was a child and in my own journey into adulthood I have become only more fascinated with it. I have been searching for deeper symbolism and have yet to find any video that dives into this beautiful story until now! Thank you so very much for this, I look forward to watching more of your content

[@dougjaeger7748]

I’ve always looked at the swan corps with the straight lines, in diagonal and vee shapes as migrating birds in flight

[@flightydancer]

What amazing and beautiful interpretation of Swan Lake. You are a very spiritual, sensitive and wise person.

[@CC-kg1zf]

This was absolutely excellent!! I wish there were videos done my Ms Cronshaw on all the major ballets! Thank you so much for such a well done video and analysis.

[@Wandererofrealmz]

This is obviously very well researched, and very interesting. I never really looked into the symbolism of ballet, even though I would like to, but this was a great starting point, and I just love it! This has definitely filmed my love for ballet. Thank you :))

[@samygeorge4183]

Exactly. My thoughts put into words. I second this ::)

[@TeddyPalf]

I loved this thank you. I would love to see you dissect more ballets like this.

[@bishalyadav9314]

Loved the explanation with the Vedic words.

[@squalter.kaufmann]

Already slightly obsessed with Swan Lake, so thanks! ⭐️🌝

[@handeakgun134]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom I loved it!! As a kid my ballet teacher and mother took me to swan lake many times and I always hated it... Just four years ago I started to appreciate it and this video helped a lot!

[@Kyrillzak]

Thank you! Your narrative is beautiful. I am going to show this video to my little niece - we are going to see Swan Lake in Kharkov shortly.

[@veracruz7954]

Very glad to see you chose some of Angel Corella’s footage, the best Siegfried EVER !!!.... 👏🏼👏🏼 In your analysis , you seem to agree with me that Swan Lake is really about the Prince !! In spite of the Odette/Odile duality and the 32 fouettés, the story is really about Siegfried’s quests.... 💕💕💕🇧🇷

[@luisfedericosala1354]

Peter Wright ‘s version of Swan Lake; center the plot of Prince Siegfried.

[@beatafajkis-modzikowska8036]

Angel Corella and Aleksandra Ferri created the best Romeo &Juliet ever ( La Scala,1999/2000 perhaps)

[@clarisafalconvalerdi5354]

Excellent explanation, very useful for all of us who are dedicated to ballet (students, dancers, teachers, etc.). Greetings from Mexico.

[@derekr1013]

I really enjoyed your documentary, especially act 4 - I interpret the 'infinity' created by the lines of the dancers as also a kind of 'inevitability' - as if this tragedy will play out again and again.

[@sangeetaatwal3172]

Thank you for all this illuminating information 😊

[@joycelibuttimendes3073]

This is just wonderful! Thank you! 💝🌷

[@cathrinekatsigianni8823]

Wow! I have never known about these meanings!! Thanks so much!!!!

[@simonavis3281]

So glad I stumbled on this. These interpretations are enlightening ! 🙏🏻

[@tovakahn5515]

Thank you for making this video , an explanation of the philosophy within the story. I ❤ the story deeply

[@davidschestenger7350]

Thank you for sharing beauty your explanation is giving the work the real dimension Thank you again

[@heike1570]

Thank you so much, this offers great insight to the topic and finally made me understand why there is an unhappy ending. Definitely going to watch you other KZbin video👍🏻💕

[@danielparmar9733]

So grateful to have come across this video, that touches onto The DNA of Most Beloved Swan Lake. As I am studying Cyril Beaumont's A Ballet called Swan Lake, would also recommend. Thank you Ms Cronshaw 💐 Will look out for the other video 👍🏽

[@jillosborn6972]

thank you so much for this, a fascinating and thought provoking interpretation and ideas

[@elzaberoos2949]

Heavens! What a brilliant insight into this masterpiece! Thank you👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I am impatiently waiting to go to a Swan Lake performance….lucky me!🙌🌹

[@angelamallemont8352]

Swam Lake is may favorite ballet . I enjoyed you documentary.

[@markbeck8384]

Thank you for your observations. The story of Swan Lake always leaves me with lots of questions, as it seems less spelled out than Nutcracker or Sleeping Beauty. What happened to Siegfried's father? What happened to Odette's parents? Who are the Swan Maidens? What does Rothbart want? Is Odile really his daughter or just an apparition? If she's real, who is her mother? Does she look like Odette because she is related or is it just an enchantment. If she is real, what does she want? Why is the Queen Mother uneasy when Siegfried wants to marry Odile? Does she know Rothbart? Etc.

[@georginareid3828]

Fabulous video ! ,so much information …🙏

[@felicity1877]

Thank you for the video, this was very interesting! I've also read The ballet called Swan Lake, but I think it's not so satisfying. I would rather recommend try to read for the history and any sources of Swan Lake Wiley's book on Tchaikovsky's ballets (via Internetarchive) and/or "Bolshoi Confidential" The interesting thing is that Swan Lake is a story shaped probably about more years and has a lot of influences. It is so different from any other ballets around this time, not only with the ambigous ending in a time, when a happy ending was the ballet fashion (I think we may only understand the Swan Lake ending happenings with the help of the music). And the whole first act without any appearance of the primaballerina! I think this is all a proof that Tchaikovsky had big influence on the story, and probably wrote it. I can't imagine otherwise, especially with all this psychological meanings...(in 1876, he was also urged to marry at last, and he was also in kind of a quest). By the way, I'm also posting videos on the origins of Swan Lake, so perhaps could be also inspirational for your analyzis. Somehow, I think it happened like this: Taking the "Stolen Veill" by Musäus (and it's opera adaption Le Lac des fees); names from different European Medieval-romantic traditions; adding some ballet traditions (La Sylphide; La Peri; Giselle) and opera influences (Lohengrin, Carmen), but basically it's true, it's about things can't be restored, and also the hero's quest.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you for taking the time to watch the video and your comments, they make sense and are thought provoking! I’ll look out for your videos.

[@felicity1877]

@@juliecronshaw7013 Okay, thank you! I'm still not finished with making/posting these video essays, as there is so much to explore and consider (I'm investigated in research for quite some years, spending time with reading books about Swan Lake, reading fairy tales and ballet/opera librettos from different countries, such as Russia, Germany and France - and finally feel like as if I'm at the core finally). I really love Swan Lake - (and I'm passionate for Tchaikovsky). By the way. why I also love your videos: You are using really beautiful productions as content, such as the 1953 movie and the ABT production with Corella/Murphy, and also the Mariinsky version; and the movie with Fonteyn/Nurejev (the first Swan Lake with tragic ending I've watched in my life. I was really confused and shocked as I had always only known the happy ending before, and which finally lead to my own quest for the meaning of Swan Lake!

[@felicity1877]

@@juliecronshaw7013 I made now a video earlier and longer than expected, because I also wanted to go deeper into the Swan Lake story, as it as in its original libretto even more archetypes, symbols and interesting connections. Perhaps it can be also inspiring/helpful for your ideas kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKOZhGqJnMiSi9E (However, my thoughts are also always dealing especially with Odette. Although the ballet opens with Siegfried, I think Odette is also a central part of the deeper meanings of Swan Lake; it's just a pity that her back story was changed; I think Tchaikovsky did mirror himself both in Siegfried and Odette. And I just want to object to all modern attempts reducing Odette to a mere illusion. A lot of modern productions make the story of Swan Lake a prince's dream; and yes, although it is the hero's quest, it is mostly also Odette's fate, too, in my opinion. Would love to hear your opinion on this, as you seems to have more background knowledge than me on those meanings........)

[@katrinatsouki]

Thank youuuuu so much for this beautiful explanation 🥰

[@emehache4004]

Thank you for this video!!

[@judithnelson1665]

Yours is a very good study, eludicating profundities (semi- Jungeian,.perhaps) I was not aware of in this great work, which ,I have been fortunate to see in some exquisite peformances, live and in video. I'd only demure that you give Odile short shrift; she isn't just "maya" but representative, emblematic of the powerful dark ("erotic", if you will) forces that animate and are essential to our being. The facile, overtly "happy" ending ( would you discuss the various endings?), so common now, diminishes this work, in my view. Thank you so much for this video.Please do more.

[@DionelvanThen]

Beautiful explanation

[@TommyLewey]

What is that image at minute 8:20?

[@juliecronshaw7013]

The image slightly before 8:20 is from Ratmansky’s Swan Lake which he mounted for La Scala and Zurich Ballet Companies

[@minissa2009]

I've been watching (also reading and writing about) ballet for many years and really enjoyed your mini-documentary. I was very interested to learn that the very, very original production featured an ambiguous ending. Do you know if the ballet included at that point that stunning apotheosis? I'd felt the ending for which that music was written was the one used in the 1895 revival/restaging---at least, Ratmansky's reconstruction includes the lovers sailing off to Paradise in the little boat with the swan maidens doing an obeisance to their fallen saviors. It drives me nuts that the trend lately has been for every choreographer in creation to make his or her mark on this ballet by tinkering with the ending (this includes a version in which Siegfried marries Odile????!!!) I've noticed "Ballet's Secret Code and will definitely make an effort to watch it all the way through. Again, thank you for this interesting piece. It definitely made me rethink some of symbolism and dramatic nuance!

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you for your comments! I’m sorry I don’t know if the original ballet had the apotheosis that was used in the 1895 version. Had Tchaikovsky written all the music for the original version by then or was it added later? Musically I agree with you, it is appropriate for an ‘ascension into heaven’ ending. I wonder if a musicologist could help with this.

[@Glimmeris]

According to Roland Wiley’s book ‘Tchaikovsky’s Ballets’, in the 1877 production ‘Odette and Siegfried receded into the distance illuminated by electric light.’ This isn’t mentioned in the libretto though; the original libretto ends with the Owl/Witch swooping away with the crown that protected Odette (Siegfried was actually the one who stole it in an attempt to keep Odette from leaving him), then Odette and Siegfried drown, the storm quiets, and the swans appear on the lake. It’s one of the darkest endings I’ve ever come across in a ballet, as nothing happens to the Witch!

[@minissa2009]

Interesting!

[@felicity1877]

@@Glimmeris How interesting to find you here and that you also read Wiley's book! The receding scene reminds me a lot of Makarova's production of Swan Lake (with Hart/Schaufuss) - I would even dare to say that she tried to get close to the original 1877 production. I read somewhere that the libretto was published before the premiere in the newspapers and I need to find out what the time space was between it and the premiere. The receding is mentioned an newspaper article, which could either mean that they changed the not satisfying ending quite soon after the premiere. According to Wiley, the libretto is anyway not 100% close to the eventual performance. And true, the libretto ending is very dark and that is why, I only can imagine that Tchaikovsky made it up. Not Begichev. Because it is so close to anything Tchaikovsky was fascinated of, such as Francesca and Carmen.

[@viviangarcia2631]

So interesting!!

[@nataliehaeusgen3282]

Thank you, a very interesting insight.

[@carbonc6065]

This is fantastic.

[@PriyaThiele]

Fascinating

[@angelicadeleon8517]

6:01 what's this version of the swan lake called

[@juliecronshaw7013]

It’s the Bolshoi Ballet film version from the 1950s with Fadeyechev and Ulyanova

[@herrbrucvald6376]

There seems to be a more pointed difference between Act 1 and 3. Act 1 is the joyous, ordered, normal world of society and nature, while Act 3 is brilliant yet at night, enclosed, political, full of the high-stake menace and shadows that always threaten our lives.

[@momo-e9s3r]

Hi @juliecronshaw7013, gorgeous video illuminating that this story, indeed, goes much deeper than many are aware. The images you used in some transitions of this video (5:17, 8:31, 10:45) look like they're from a book or photocatalog -- they are absolutely stunning and I would love to know the name of the book, if you can provide it.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Hi Momo-e9s3r! The image used is on page 85 of a wonderful vintage book I inherited from a private collection, called ‘The Bolshoi Ballet’ by Yuri Slonimsky, 2nd revised and enlarged edition. (1960) Publisher: Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow. I used another image from this book of the duel scene in Romeo and Juliet in Ballet’s Secret Code also on Yt. Every picture in this book tells a story, as well as revealing the extraordinary level of technique and artistry, not only the dancers of course but also in the making of the productions that were staged at that time.

[@davidbaczyk]

From where are the „live action movie“ references from like in 8:45 ?

[@juliecronshaw7013]

The vintage Swan Lake footage is from the Bolshoi 1950s film and the Kirov version with Liepa.

[@vanodnak]

very intresting! Whould you concider to talk about the symbolism of Gissele? Also about historical facts etc? I really appreciate your work

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you! Will have a think about Giselle.

[@operaguy1]

I have thought long and deep about Giselle. It is only a true tragedy if Albrecht is a good man. If he is a cad, it is boring and Giselle is frankly just a stupid girl. No, they must each be heroic.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Yes I agree with you totally. In most stories, without heroism of some sort, whether it is through action or by virtue of nature, the fate of the protagonists, good bad or indifferent, will leave the reader/viewer unaffected.

[@vassiliki-piyichristopoulo160]

Wonderful!

[@Siegfried6669]

Hi, What version is this at 12:00 ? it look like a movie, I don't find the video link in your description.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqbKnqhqoJiMm80feature=shared It's from the Bolshoi film, with Galina Ulanova and Konstantin Sergeev

[@Siegfried6669]

@@juliecronshaw7013 Awesome! it's like a 50s movie. Thanks Julie

[@judywebster7972]

Very interesting analysis

[@bernifitzsimmons176]

This is wonderful

[@marialisduarte1223]

MUCHAS GRACIAS !!!!!!!!!!!! BENDICIONES !!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!! BLESSINGS !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Dingus69420.]

which ballet has the swan maidens turning human again?

[@iamhere233]

Beautiful video. I wish it had English subtitles.

[@HelenA-fd8vl]

You can read the transcript.

[@marcco44]

well explained👏👏👏

[@tormentedangel667]

Does anyone know what version is the one where the swans become human at the end of the ballet?

[@juliecronshaw7013]

The filmed Bolshoi version with Galina Ulanova, from the 1950s, has this version as an ending.

[@alikapotter7909]

Anyone know where I can find the original 1877 version?

[@kathymyers7279]

Love this.

[@rawsunnata829]

There are at least 2 different ending options for this ballet and one is the happy victorious one😊

[@laurabriese6829]

Thank you

[@Thejaguarprincesa]

This was soo good🥲🦢✨

[@barbiefairytopia2803]

congratulations!!!!

[@kareno7848]

Yet, you don't explain Rothbart and why Odette is trapped.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Fair point. It’s material for another video.

[@radiantonion8615]

isn't a code "secret" by definition?

[@bobloblaw9679]

i'm surprised you didn't go into the romantic era precedents with men and doomed supernatural loves, not to mention the ubiquity of a ballet blanc by this point in balletic history.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Thank you for your comments! This video is a personal one for me. The aspects you mention have all been covered before by pundits with far more intellectual nous about the Romantic ballet than I, which is why these reflections are based on my own observations..

[@ginabataille1796]

I feel that, unlike the Willis in Giselle, I don't see the point of those swans.

[@bender-swansaskia7898]

Thanks Dear, just 1 thing it's not fantasie it's the astral reality!!!!

[@sandatoacsen9858]

🤗❤️😇

[@observer1111]

No auto-translate subtitles! 👎

[@Kitefel]

It's interesting that she interprets the prince going into the forest as his search to find Himself, and then him doing so, in the form of a beautiful swan princess. That actually sounds like an interesting way to read the story through the lens of queer theory. Which ironically is basically the exact and much more obvious symbolism that Matthew Bourne gave his reimagined all-male gay swan lake; in which the swan represents the prince's repressed sexuality and will to live.

[@mariejoseph440]

Yes

[@LightforVictoria]

❤

[@operaguy1]

It is not a happy ending to see them in heaven together. Only if they overcome Rothbard and the curse is defeated, Odette and the other maidens are free, and the couple lives and loves in this world ... is it a triumph.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Dear John, Thank you for your comment! From the point of view of a 19th century theatregoer who would also be going to church and expectant of eternal life in the hereafter, the ascension into heaven is a triumphal ending.

[@operaguy1]

@@juliecronshaw7013 Agreed, in general, even down to today ... I gave my opinion without saying "in my opinion." I'm not apologizing for that, but I am now clarifying. For many people seeing them united in the afterlife is a win, acknowledged. It would be rude of me to unleash my deeper and quite fierce disagreement with this, here on your page and in your upbeat and joyful take on Swan Lake. I would ask this of anyone, including you: if the ending results in the downfall of Rothbard and the release of the curse, and life of love together on earth for Odette and Siegfried, is that less romantic, or less good, than the their death and reuniting in heaven?

[@operaguy1]

I guess I'm asking: is Swan Lake a tragedy or not!?

[@juliecronshaw7013]

Personally I don’t mind if the ending is a happy one or the ascension into heaven or the original Gothic ending of the first version as long as the story is well told. Too many productions water down or eliminate much of the mime, usually because it isn’t taught much anymore, and add in ‘dancing around’ which confuses observers new to ballet. Or a choreographer wants to make it into some trendy psycho drama. Have you seen Ratmansky’s reconstruction? I this is a version I would love to watch, having seen his Sleeping Beauty.

[@juliecronshaw7013]

In the Greek sense, probably not but as a Gothic story, yes. Technically you could say that Siegfried is ‘brought down’ by the weaknesses in his character so if one sees it in this sense it is a tragedy.

[@lunchbagrodriguez9740]

I want you to be my aunt 😭

[@arminhanik7229]

element in motion-- E-motion. Give me a break, will you?

[@HajisSaya]

The handsigns you're doing are very annoying.....get a hold of yourself.

[@AuFauna]

Bravo! So wonderful. 👏🏻 Really love your insights! 🦢🤍꩜

[@rawsunnata829]

There are at least 2 different ending options for this ballet and one is the happy victorious one😊