Swan Lake
Feathered classical dance
Swan Lake is a ballet composed by Tchaikovsky, first performed in 1877, telling the story of a princess transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse.
It remains among the most performed classical ballets worldwide, known for its demanding dual role of Odette and Odile.
The term evokes classical ballet generally: She's been dancing since she was five—total Swan Lake energy.
Bewitched maiden, avian form
- pas de deuxBallet for two dancers
- adagioSlow musical tempo
- corps de balletBallet's ensemble performers
- tutuShort projecting dance skirt
pointe · ballerina · transformation · curse · arabesque · grand jeté · pirouette · variation
Unverified traditional tale
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- sorcererWielder of arcane power
- spellArrange letters correctly
- transformationThorough change in form
maiden · moonlight · fidelity · betrayal · tragic love · oath · evil · magic
Effortless beauty of motion
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- white feathersEmblems of timidity
- beautyAesthetic excellence
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
gliding · reflection · serenity · purity · nobility · tragic · romantic · haunting
Odette
Bewitched maiden, avian form
- pas de deuxBallet for two dancers
- adagioSlow musical tempo
- corps de balletBallet's ensemble performers
tutu · pointe · ballerina · transformation · curse · arabesque · grand jeté · pirouette · variation · coda
legend
Unverified traditional tale
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- sorcererWielder of arcane power
- spellArrange letters correctly
transformation · maiden · moonlight · fidelity · betrayal · tragic love · oath · evil · magic · redemption
grace
Effortless beauty of motion
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- white feathersEmblems of timidity
- beautyAesthetic excellence
ethereal · gliding · reflection · serenity · purity · nobility · tragic · romantic · haunting · fluid
premiere
First public performance
- BolshoiMoscow's grand theater
- productionMaking or generating something
- stagingPreparing for presentation
curtain · audience · applause · ovation · theater · costumes · scenery · orchestra pit · conductor · program
score
Numerical standing in competition
orchestration · waltz · finale · overture · 1877 · composition · strings · harp · melody · themes
- TchaikovskyThe Nutcracker, Nutcracker, 1812 Overture, Sleeping Beauty, The Queen of Spades
- BalletsThe Nutcracker, Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet
- Tchaikovsky biographyNutcracker, 1812 Overture, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, violin concerto
- Iowa watersMississippi River, Missouri River, Yellow River, Volga River
- performing artsacting, dance, music, drama, theater
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
Swan LakeDon Quixote
Delusional self-proclaimed knight-errant
contemporary ballet · The Nutcracker · A Midsummer Night's Dream · Cinderella · comic opera
Swan Lakefarce
Absurd, laughable situation
comedy · burlesque · satire · slapstick · vaudeville
lake, swan, lakes, swans, lakeside, lakefront, lakebed, swanlike, laker