Swan Lake - for the whole family!

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A popular classic in a new, contemporary version for the whole family!

Swan Lake - for the whole family!

About Swan Lake

Introdans now once again presents a well-known, universally popular classic in a new, contemporary interpretation for the whole family aged 6 through 106! With his version of Swan Lake the Belgian choreographer Stijn Celis has created a fresh, humorous and innovative version of the ‘ballet of ballets’: Swan Lake, which 125 years after its original premiere is still performed all over the world. Celis’ version of Swan Lake is a large-scale, lively production in which all dancers of the Introdans ensemble will shine, set against an imposing stage design and moving to the famous, majestic and moving music of Tchaikovsky.

The press on Swan Lake

“This Swan Lake is very lively. The costumes are colorful and festive, the conventions of classical ballet language are humorously subverted and the movements of the swans are intriguing: animalically whimsical rather than romantically graceful.” Theaterkrant

“Boxing moves and animal manners: this free version of ‘Swan Lake’ is full of cheerful surprises.” de Volkskrant

“A new modern version of Swan Lake at Introdans looks youthful and fresh” – Theaterparadijs

Start listening to Tchaikovsky now!

Extra information

Celis created Swan Lake for Bern Ballet in Switzerland in 2006, while he was artistic director of that company. In his version he zooms in on the relationship between Prince Siegfried and his dominant mother, the Queen, and on Siegfried’s longing to escape from the ‘claws’ of the monarchy. The major themes in Celis’ interpretation are bringing your senses alive and the need to find your own path, and that’s also what makes his production so attractive and understandable for young members of the audience. In terms of choreography one can recognise the influence of the ‘Swedish school’ on Celis: for some years this Belgian choreographer danced at the Swedish Cullberg Ballet. This has led to a powerful, expressive dance style, full of drama, poetry, grotesque humour and a huge dose of imagination.  

Introdans director Roel Voorintholt: “Swan Lake wasn’t originally made for children, but it’s actually very suitable for them. This production is exciting, it’s theatrical, it contains all kinds of technical gems, and at the same time the story is very easy to follow. It sends you, as spectator, on a fascinating journey and you won’t be bored for a second.”

Swan Lake Experium
Introdans offers an ‘experium’ for Swan Lake in the theatre foyer, prior to the performance and in the interval. It’s an interactive, immersive experience for young and old, where you can use all your senses to experience Swan Lake even more intensively. 

Introdans for you
For the school performances of Swan Lake, the interactive website Introdans for you is filled with teaching materials, assignments and videos.

Credits

Swan Lake

choreography | Stijn Celis
dramaturgy | Armin Kerber
music | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra led by Bost Seiji Ozawa
set design | Jann Messerli, Fillip Studios
costume design | Catherine Voeffray
lighting design | Fred Pommerehn
audiovisual design | Philipp Contag-Lada
film | Lagom Collective
set atelier | Mascha van Vugt, Erik van Dongen, Hét Decoratelier
costume atelier | Heidi de Raad, Jelmez-Art, Atelier Introdans, with thanks to Theater Basel
hair and make-up | Lonneke van Lent, with thanks to Theater Basel
repetiteur | Debora Maiques, Ayako Nakano
ballet master | Jorge Pérez Martínez, Marlena Wolfe
duration | ± 90 minutes (excl. intermission)
world premiere | March 1, 2006, Bern Ballett, Bern (CH)
Introdans premiere | December 16, 2023, Apeldoorn

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