Swan Lake

Swan Lake (1967)

Bruhn’s Swan Lake was a fascinating psychological drama that departed from traditional versions, which proved controversial and ground-breaking. He enhanced the role of Prince Siegfried, whom he occasionally performed, with more dancing and depth, saying he wished to tell the story of the Prince rather than the Swan Queen. He also changed the role of Von Rothbart, the evil sorcerer, to the Black Queen (initially played by Franca). His telling changed the story from a struggle between good and evil to focus on the Prince’s relationships with the women in his life – his mother, the Black Queen, the Swan Queen and the Black Swan – each representing a different form of control or influence. To emphasize the powerful emotion of the story, Bruhn reinstated the tragic ending, with the Prince driven to his death by the swans.

Casts

	Erik Bruhn as Prince
	Lois Smith as Swan Queen/Black Swan
	Celia Franca as Black Queen
	Yves Cousineau as Tutor
	Olga Makcheeva as Queen Mother
	Joysanne Sidimus as Prince's Friend
	Leeyan Granger as Leading Swan
	Vanessa Harwood as Leading Swan
	Elizabeth Keeble as Leading Swan
	Charmaine Turner as Leading Swan
	Hazaros Surmejan as Master of ceremonies
	Daniel Seillier as Clown
	Elaine Werner as Clown
	Howard Marcus as Clown
	Andrew Oxenham as Clown
	Karen Bowes as Spanish dance
	Barbara Sherval as Spanish dance
	Glenn Gilmour as Spanish dance
	Gunter Pick as Spanish dance
	Kristina Sealander as Czardas
	Lawrence Adams as Czardas
	Veronica Tennant as Neapolitan dance
	Jeremy Blanton as Neapolitan dance

Crew