Grace Ostrosky, Arts & Life Editor–
Denison students attended a production of featured hand-painted sets with over 200 custom-designed scenery elements, which transformed the stage into a “dreamlike landscape.”
The University Programming Council and Ballet Club teamed up to bring a group of interested students to see a live performance of “Swan Lake” on Nov. 4 at the Davidson Theatre in Columbus. The ballet, originally composed by Tchaikovsky, was performed by International Ballet Stars.
The promotional packet explained that “with world-renown ballet artists from Italy, Spain, Georgia, Ireland, Turkey, Brazil, Great Britain, Ukraine, Japan, Tajikistan, Moldova, and Kazakhstan, [the] performance embodies the spirit of international artistry and excellence.”
Divided into two acts, “Swan Lake” is a ballet about Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with Odette, a princess cursed by the sorcerer Rothbart to be a swan by day and a human by night. In act one, scene one, the prince celebrates his coming-of-age and learns he must marry at the next day’s ball. At the end of the scene, as the party ends at nighttime, he sees a flock of swans and takes a crossbow to hunt them.
In act one, scene two, as Prince Siegfried draws his bow to hunt a swan who landed on the lakeside, the swan turns into Odette. Odette tells the prince of the curse, which can only be broken if a man swears true, eternal love to her. The prince confesses his love and devotion to her, promising her they will marry. Rothbart watches them and decides to trick the prince at the ball.
In act two, scene one, which begins at the next day’s ball, and Prince Siegfried is uninterested in any of the women in attendance; he thinks only of Odette. Then, Rothbart arrives with his daughter, Odile, who is impersonating Odette. This deception caused the prince to break his vow to Odette. Rothbart reveals himself and the prince flees to go back to the lakeside to see Odette.
In act two, scene two, the prince searches for Odette to explain that he was tricked. The ballet typically ends in one of two ways: Prince Siegfried not making it in time to save Odette, sealing her fate to be a swan forever, or Prince Siegfried battling with Rothbart, declaring his love for Odette before sunrise. In this performance, Odette protects the prince from a deathblow, breaking the curse with her love for him. Rothbart is defeated and Odette is human.
Students and other audience members alike applauded and cheered at the end when the dancers took their bows.
“It’s always a cool experience to be able to see live performances,” said Addison Fransen ‘28, an attendee of the trip.
UPC has planned trips for the student body like this in the past, such as last spring when they took a group of 50 fans to The Ohio State Stadium to see the Columbus Blue Jackets play Detroit Red Wings.
UPC provides opportunities for Denison students that they may not have access to otherwise, allowing for memories to be created among the student body.