The Story of Swan Lake

One of the most popular ballets from the 19th century is Swan Lake. It is a classic fairytale, filled with princes, princesses, sorcerers, evil, magic spells, and true love. The basic storyline for Swan Lake is as follows:

Act 1

Set in medieval Germany, we find ourselves in a park in front of a castle. It is Prince Siegfried's coming-of-age, full of dances and revels. In the middle of the party, the Princess-Mother tells the prince he must select a bride in the near future. The Prince and his friends set off to go hunting in the woods in order to forget his princely responsibilities.

Act 2

Next we find we are on the banks of a lake. Swans swim across the lake, one of which wears a crown. The hunters enter with the Prince, who orders them to proceed with the hunt and leave him alone. He meets a beautiful woman, all in white - Odette, the Swan Queen. The Prince approaches her and calms her fears. He asks her who she is and why she is there. She tells him that the lake was formed by the tears her parents wept after the evil magician Von Rothbart kidnapped her. She and the other maidens were put under a spell by which they live as swans by day and humans by night. The only way for the spell to be broken is if a good man pledges his love for Odette. Siegfried is about to pledge his love to Odette when Von Rothbart appears, dressed as the owl he becomes to guard his captives. Odette prevents Siegfried from killing Von Rothbart, as he will only be killed through the sacrifice of human life, given for the love of Odette. The hunters mistake the Swan Maidens for birds and prepare to shoot them. Odette and Seigfried stop the hunt, then the Swan Maidens dance upon the shore. Siegfried and Odette realize their growing love for each other. At dawn the Queen and the Maidens revert to swans and swim away, over the lake.

Act 3

We now find ourselves in the Great Hall of the castle. There is a great feast to celebrate the Prince's coming-of-age. The guests arrive and the prospective brides are presented to the prince, but he is distracted by thoughts of Odette. Suddenly, new guests arrive. It is a nobleman who presents his daughter to the prince. She looks remarkably like Odette. It is actually Von Rothbart and his daughter, trying to deceive the prince into betraying Odette. Odile, his daughter, receives instructions from her father on how to beguile the prince. She and the prince dance together. Odette appears at the window and tries to warn the prince, but he is overwhelmed by Von Rothbart's magic and Odile's beauty. At the end of their dance, the Prince pledges his love to Odile, believing her to be Odette. Her curse now permanent, Odette flees from the window. Siegfried sees her and runs from the hall, realizing his error.

Act 4

Back at the lakeside, we find the Swan Maidens waiting for Odette. She returns and tells them of Von Rothbart's trickery. She tries to drown herself in the lake but is prevented by her friends. She wishes to die while still in human form, because otherwise she will be forced to remain a swan forever. Siegfried arrives and begs for the Odette's forgiveness, which she in turn gives. Von Rothbart comes and demands the Prince fulfill his vow to marry his daughter. Siegfried vows to die with Odette rather then marry Odile, and Von Rothbart flees in the face of such selfless love. Siegfried and Odette drown themselves in the lake. Von Rothbart dies in agony and his castle collapses. Finally the dawn comes. The Swan Maidens are now released from their spell and bow before the lover's souls which fly heavenward over the lake.

For more information on Swan Lake, check out http://webserver.rcds.rye.ny.us/id/Dance...