The World Ballet Company is a renowned ballet company with an incredible mission. The mission of the Los Angeles based ballet company is to provide exposure of the arts to smaller towns where the presence of the arts may not be as prominent. The World Ballet Company has traveled to more than 280 cities, reaching nearly half a million audience members. The company is comprised of some of the best dancers from around the globe, providing a plethora of experience and artistry to the company.
On October 30, the World Ballet Company presented their rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. The event was open to the public and was held in the Chester Fritz Auditorium nestled within the University of North Dakota’s campus. The event provided an incredible opportunity for the greater Grand Forks community to experience prestigious ballet coupled with the intricate story of Swan Lake.
The principal roles of Odette and Odile were flawlessly executed by 1st Soloist, Andrea Lassakova. The roles of both Odette and Odile, more commonly known as Black Swan and White Swan, are two of the most physically demanding roles to perform in the ballet world. Lassakova performed both with ease, displaying technical excellence that captured the audience throughout the duration of the performance.
The ballet was split into Acts I and II, and Scenes 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each Act has a multitude of pieces performed by various members of the cast. While the plot itself is complex, the story of Swan Lake is one of true love and the balance between good and evil. In addition to Lassakova, there were an abundance of other roles that made the ballet incredible. 1st Soloist, Kirill Propov, performed the role of Prince Seigfried. Propov possessed not only incredible technique but also a captivating stage presence that made the entire story come to life. 2nd Soloist, Maxim Vlas, held the role of the antagonist, Rothbart. When Rothbart entered the stage, the entire auditorium took a unified breath of wonderment. As the stage filled with smoke, Rothbart appeared and captured the attention of everyone in the room. Vlas wore an incredibly intricate costume, including a large headpiece with feathers. Each costume that was worn was proof of the hard work and time put into every element of the ballet. The costumes were hand crafted to fit every dancer appropriately and made the ballet come to life.
Another notable element of the ballet was the Corps De Ballet. The members of the Corps consisted of those who were not dancing lead roles, such as the 1st Soloists and 2nd Soloists. One of the most breathtaking elements of the ballet was the synchronicity of the Corps. All their lines and movements were in perfect unison, creating an artistic flow that made each corner of the stage worth watching. Swan Lake requires a strong Corps De Ballet, and the World Ballet Company provided just that. Every step made by the ballerinas were calculated and precise, allowing the entire stage to be filled by many synchronized, moving pieces.
The World Ballet Company provided an incredible show for the community to witness. Every piece of the puzzle fit together to make an awe-inspiring picture of the arts. To find more information on the World Ballet Company, visit their website (worldballetcompany.com).
Sadie Blace is a Dakota Student Section Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
