Oklahoma City Ballet to Present SWAN LAKE, 4/19-21

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For the first time in its 41-year history, the Oklahoma City Ballet will present a full-length production of Swan Lake, widely considered among the most technically and emotionally challenging classical ballets of all time.

There will be three performances: 8 p.m. on Friday, April 19; 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 20; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 21 at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. in Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic will perform Tchaikovsky's famous score live, conducted by Maestro Joel Levine.

"This is a milestone moment for the performing arts in Oklahoma City," Levine said. "Swan Lakeisn't just a ballet, it is the ballet. The production is a 'must see' for OKC; it is a big step forward, and it's very exciting."

"The story of Swan Lake is all about transformation," Artistic Director Robert Mill s said. "The Oklahoma City Ballet has transformed over the past five years into a company capable of honoring the high art and transcendent power of this important ballet. Everyone who loves the performing arts should see Swan Lake at least once in their lifetime. The time is now for ballet in Oklahoma City."

The ballet will be performed in two acts rather than the more traditional four-act version, an adaptation Artistic Director Robert Mill s said is a trend among ballet companies because it makes the ballet more accessible to modern audiences. Most all of the iconic moments and dances in the ballet will remain.

Preparations for the historic production began more than a year ago and evolved into a regional effort.

Oklahoma City Ballet dancers Miki Kawamura and Yui Sato will dance the lead roles of Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried at the Friday evening opening night performance, and soloists from the Houston Ballet, Nao Kusuzaki and Christopher Coomer, will perform the lead roles in the Saturday evening and Sunday matinee performances.

The Oklahoma City Ballet company includes 26 dancers representing six countries and 10 states in the U.S., including three dancers from Oklahoma.

The ballet will feature beautiful sets and costumes including Prince Siegfried's palace interior and the moonlit lakeside. The palace scenes will be staged by Artistic Director Robert Mill s and Ballet Master Jacob Sparso, inspired by the original choreography of Marius Petipa.

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