Swan Lake at the Straz Performing Arts Center Review

I’ve been to an MLS game, I’ve been to an opera and I’ve been to a Celtic Woman concert, but I’d never experienced the ballet until recently.

When I saw the Moscow Festival Ballet’s production of “Swan Lake” was coming to Tampa, I naturally felt like I had to leap (or jete) at the opportunity.

(Ok, you got me, my girlfriend really wanted to see it, but I’m always up for expanding my horizons.)

I’m really happy our programs give us a detailed outline for the production’s storyline because I otherwise would’ve had no idea what the hell was going on. Obviously that’s fine because “storyline” isn’t the most important thing in a ballet. I actually kind of wish that I didn’t know what was going on, so I could’ve made up my own storyline.

The story — not that it matters that much — follows Prince Siegfried, who has just come of age. In his desire to be alone, he spies a group of white swans, which lead him to a nearby lake. There he discovers the swans are actually women who have been transformed by the wicked sorcerer Rotbart. The swans are lead by the beautiful Odette, who becomes the object of Prince Siegfried’s affection. Back at the palace, Rotbart tries to divert Prince Siegfried’s attention by introducing him to an Odette doppelganger named Odile. In order to break the curse, Siegfried must return to Swan Lake and profess his love to Odette.

“Swan Lake” is divided into four acts and, unfortunately, Act I is the weakest. Now, I may just feel that way because I was still trying to get my bearings, but the first act was confusing for me (there appeared to be two separate actors playing Prince Siegfried at one point). But then again, I’m easily confused. Oh well, at least the Jester stole the show and kept us entertained.

One aspect of the show that’s not up to debate is the fact that the absolute best scenes (Acts II and IV) take place at Swan Lake. They are absolutely beautiful, breathtaking and transformative.

Act III (with different women trying to woo Prince Siegfried) falls somewhere in between. (There were themes representing each woman’s country of origin, so my simplistic mind could actually follow it.)

Though the story portion of the production was probably a bit too abstract for my taste, there’s no denying the incredible dancing talent — the dancers leapt into the air and performed pirouettes with more ease than you and I display when we get in and out of our cars — on display in the Straz Performing Arts Center’s mid-size Ferguson Hall. (Pretty much every seat in the house was a good one.)

Swan Lake…B