’Swan Lake’ coming to Genting

(From left) Resorts World Genting vice-president of Resort Communications and Public Relations Katherine Chew, Tann, Jonathan Barton, Watson, Ballet West UK founder Gillian Barton, The Dance Company director Shannon Lee and Dance Artistry International president Aundrey Kwan.

THE famous Swan Lake ballet performance will be held at Resorts World Genting in August and September.

Six sensational shows await audiences at Genting International Showroom at Resorts World Genting, from Aug 24 to 26, and from Aug 31 to Sept 2.

The grand event was launched at the SkySymphony stage, SkyAvenue with the first and largest ballet flashmob comprising a total of 80 dancers.

The 150-minute production (with an intermission) will be led by soloists Jonathan Barton, Natasha Wilson and Uyu Hiromoto together with ballerinas from the UK and all over Europe.

Barton said, “This will be the first professional full-UK cast, full-length Swan Lake ballet in Malaysia.

“This significant event is a kick-start not only for the ballet industry; but also for the dance industry as a whole, regardless of genre.

“It creates opportunities for local and international dancers in Malaysia.”

The timeless tale of Swan Lake is a permanent fixture in the repertoire of all ballet companies, and is revered as the most popular ballet in the world, rivalled only by Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

Featuring some of the most beloved pieces in the classical canon, Swan Lake is the tale of Prince Siegfried who, when celebrating his birthday with a royal party, meets the beautiful princess Odile by a lake when hunting.

Cursed along with other maidens to become swans by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart, the spell can only be broken by true love.

Ready to proclaim Odile his wife, the prince and his mother arrange a party, but Von Rothbart magicked his daughter Odette to resemble Odile.

Siegfried is deceived and proclaims his love to Odette, cursing Odile to be a swan forever.

Chasing after Odile at the lake, Siegfried faces off with Von Rothbart, but the heartbroken Odile jumps to her death.

Siegfried joins her and the purity of their love defeats Von Rothbart as the two lovers are united in the afterlife.

Swan Lake will be staged by The Dance Company in collaboration with Ballet West.

The team will also take time off between shows to conduct international master classes on Aug 22, 23, 24 and 30, at the Arena of Stars.

The masterclasses are open to all Malaysian talents.

Dancers will be led through classical ballet choreography as well as contemporary and jazz-based moves.

For the masterclass participants, it will be a rare opportunity to perform with internatio­nal soloists, as well as a chance to be scouted by Ballet West UK.

For details, call [e-mail]

Resorts World Genting vice-president of promotions and entertainment Kevin Tann said, “This is a unique opportunity that only comes once in a blue moon – Swan Lake, the great ballet performance together with Mas­terclasses for talented Malaysians to partake.”

Tickets for Swan Lake are now on sale.

Each show seats 1,000, divided between the following categories: PS1 (RM988), PS2 (RM788), PS3 (RM588) and PS4 (RM388). Genting Rewards Card members will receive a 10% discount for tickets bought by cash, credit card or Genting Points for all tickets.

For details, call [phone] or visit www.rwgenting.com