In a unique collaboration between the Shanghai Ballet and renowned British choreographer Derek Deane, a grand production of Swan Lake with 80 dancers, will open exclusively at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on 20 April 2017 for five enchanting performances.
From China’s cultural capital, the Shanghai Ballet showcases impeccable skill, with some of the most precise and graceful dancers Australia has ever seen. Audiences will experience the perfection of Deane’s impressive interpretation of the Tchaikovsky classic in this incomparable and exquisite production of Swan Lake.
Along with 450 stunning costumes and 10 tonnes of scenery, the Shanghai Ballet’s 80 dancers, including 48 beautiful swans, will grace the stage of the Regent Theatre in a truly lavish and spectacular production of Swan Lake. It is one of the most beloved ballets in the world and tells the classic love story between Prince Siegfried and the Swan Princess Odette divided by the villainous sorcerer Rothbart in a story where true love conquers all.
“The enduring popularity of Swan Lake is a testament to the appeal of traditional ballets,” said Derek Deane. “People can’t get enough of this story and choreographers like myself keep putting their individual stamp on it. The corps of the Shanghai Ballet rivals that of any world famous company, and is reason enough to see this unique production. It is also extremely rare to see a Swan Lake of this size.”
Derek Deane is a former Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet and former Artistic Director of English National Ballet. He has twice been nominated for Laurence Olivier Awards, and was awarded the OBE in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Years honours list 2000.
Deane has created work for The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Teatro alla Scala (Milan), Teatro San Carlo (Naples), Shanghai Ballet (China), Kobayashi Ballet (Tokyo), Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Toulouse Ballet, National Ballet of Zagreb, and the Queensland Ballet. His credits include: Giselle, Alice in Wonderland, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, Strictly Gershwin, and Romeo and Juliet.
With over a thirty year dance history, the Shanghai Ballet holds a predominant position in ballet circles in China and around the world. The company have created and staged many acclaimed and varied ballets including: Jane Eyre (Patrick de BANA), The Butterfly Lovers (XIN Lili), A Sigh of Love (Bertrand d’At), Echoes of Eternity (Patrick de BANA), Hamlet (Derek Deane), The Last Mission of Marco Polo (Jose Martinez), Shanghai Grand Theatre’s version The Nutcracker (Derek Deane).
The repertoire of the company includes Romeo and Juliet (Derek Deane), Coppelia (Pierre Lacotte), La Sylphide (Jean-Paul Gravier), The Nutcracker (Tetsutaro Shimizu), Giselle, Don Quixote, Balanchine and Beyond, The Ode of Joy – Gala Performance.
Swan Lake has captivated the world for over a hundred years, partly because of its technical demands and attendant prestige. Presented by Theatre Tours International (Andrew Guild and Simon Bryce), it will be the first time that the ballet has been performed in Australia in a theatre with a deluxe swan flock lineup.
Swan Lake
Regent Theatre, 191 Collins St, Melbourne
Season: 20 – 24 April 2017
Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au
For more information, visit: www.theatretours.com.au for details.
Image: Shanghai Ballet – Swan Lake (supplied)