Swan Lake show to mark 30 years of Cork City Ballet

CORK City Ballet celebrates its 30th anniversary season in the Cork Opera House this year, making it the longest-running professional ballet company in Ireland.

To mark this significant milestone, the company has chosen to present Swan Lake this November, one of the most famous classical ballets of all time.

Directed by Artistic Director Alan Foley, Cork City Ballet’s production will enchant audiences with its opulent designs, sumptuous costumes, enchanting solos and spectacular pas de deux in this production.

The company’s full-length production of this ballet lays claim to a legacy that extends back to its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1895, so the historical piece is a perfect celebration for the milestone anniversary.

Speaking at the recent launch of Swan Lake, Artistic Director Alan Foley explained that the performance will break from tradition with a slightly different ending. He said: “Unlike the unalloyed tragedy most people cherish, this version ends with a fairytale twist.

“Chief choreographer -Yuri Demakov and I have re-produced the original Petipa/Ivanov choreography where the prince destroys the evil sorcerer Rothbart and is joyfully reunited with the ‘Swan Queen.”

All the well-loved elements will be unchanged, however, including the magical ‘white acts’, with the famous cygnets’ dance for four girls; the white swan pas de deux; and the Act 3 climactic ‘black swan’ pas de deux complete with thirty-two fouettés, all to the soundtrack of Tchaikovsky’s score.

The production will feature Katerina Petrova- Prima Ballerina of the Sofia State Ballet and her partner Tsetso Ivanov who will dance the lead roles of Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried, accompanied by soloists and a full corps de ballet.

The production opens at the Cork Opera House on Thursday, November 2 and runs until Saturday, November 4 with one matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm, with tickets ranging from €27 to €45, with the option to buy a family ticket for €120.