Ballet Northwest’s longstanding tradition of performing a full-length ballet over Mother’s Day weekend at the Washington Center returns this year with the iconic production of Swan Lake.
This year’s production features guest artist Brian Simcoe as the lead male dancer, Prince Siegfried. Simcoe is a Principal Dancer with Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland. Local dancers Elina Brein (Odette), Jolie Alonso (Odile), and Jacob Brein (Von Rothbart) round out the lead roles.
When the beautiful Odette spurns the advances of the sorcerer von Rothbart, he delivers a curse that transforms her into a white swan. Prince Siegfried goes hunting and spies Odette as a lovely swan. He discovers her secret and they fall in love, but von Rothbart and his daughter Odile (the black swan) have other plans. Tchaikovsky’s dramatic score sets the tone for this quintessential classical ballet, featuring lavish sets created by renowned designer Jill Carter, and exquisite costumes designed by BNW’s costume team.
Ballet Northwest’s dance company is comprised of 75 dancers age 12 and older, drawn from Thurston, Pierce, Lewis and Mason counties. Dancers from the company recently studied at the summer programs of prestigious institutions such as American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre, among others.
The production is staged by Ballet Northwest’s Artistic Directors Ken and Josie Johnson after the traditional Marius Petipa choreography and is sponsored by Capital Heating & Cooling, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Olympia Federal Savings, Andrew Kapust DDS, Kell-Chuck Glass, Olympic Dermatology, Foot & Ankle Surgical Associates, ERNWest, Tucker Family Foundation, The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, and Washington State Arts Commission.
WHO: Ballet Northwest
WHAT: Swan Lake, a ballet in three acts featuring a cast of 75 local dancers
WHEN: May 6 at 7:30 p.m., May 7 at 5 p.m. and May 8 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St SE Olympia, WA 98501
HOW: Ticket Office – 360-753-8586 or order online at www.washingtoncenter.org/bnw.
PRICES: Tickets are $14 to $35, plus $4.00 service fee. Student, senior, and youth discounts available. Student Rush tickets go on sale one hour before curtain.
Since 1970, Ballet Northwest has been a community-based group dedicated to promoting, teaching, and preserving the art of dance in Southwestern Washington. The company offers educational opportunities for local dancers as well as outreach throughout the community.
*Photos by Jerome Tso, courtesy of Ballet Northwest.
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