Ballet West principal Christiana Bennett is feeling the pressure. This season marks her first time dancing the dual role of Odette/Odile for the Ballet West production of Jonas Kage's "Swan Lake."
"There are so many wonderful 'Swan Lake' productions in the past," Bennett said during a rehearsal break. "I have been fortunate and seen many different live versions. And I've seen thousands of videos of those who are no longer with us.
"This is one of the roles that every girl who dances ballet wants to do. There have been some amazing people who have danced this role. Alicia Markova, Margot Fonteyn, Susan Jaffe. And it's surreal to me knowing that I'm going to be dancing the role."
The Odette/Odile role is the second full-length role Bennett has done for Ballet West. Her first was Juliet in "Romeo & Juliet," which premiered this past February. "I have danced the second act of 'Swan Lake' since I was 16. But this is the first time I've done the full length. And it is a challenge."
The dual roles are difficult technically, and then, once the steps are down, the dancers have to act. "I know dancers who can do the dancing but there is no passion in the character," said Ballet West artistic director Jonas Kage during a separate interview. "They can have the flawless lines, the technique and the steps. But the character isn't there. And that looks terrible. It's a balancing act that needs to be done right."
Kage's version of "Swan Lake" made its Utah debut in 1998. And the choreographer is happy to be bringing it back. "I didn't have to change it at all. It works. I mean there might be times when I would look at it and say, 'Maybe this could be tighter' or 'Maybe they should do it more like this,' but I'm pleased with it.
"And it does change, regardless if I want it to or not. The changes come in because of the dancers. There are new dancers in the roles. And those who have done it before still bring new ideas and interpretations to those roles."
Christopher Ruud, who broke hearts with his interpretation of Romeo in February, is one of the new Siegfrieds this year. "It's surreal," said Ruud, who is Bennett's husband. "Any serious male dancer has his eye on Siegfried. It's one of those pinnacle roles."
The other two newcomers to this "Swan Lake" include Peggy Dolkas and Hua Zhuang. Returning to the ballet are Michiyo Hayashi and Seth Olson.
"I want to give the dancers a chance to explore the roles," said Kage. "It's one thing to teach the steps and technique, but another to teach characters. I don't think you can really teach that. I can guide them, but they need to find the character for themselves."
"I have a lot of interpretations to choose from," said Bennett. "Working with the company's ballet mistress and ballet master also help me in molding the character. As for me, I like to see Odette as the martyr. She's the one who has taken it upon herself to save her flock. She is the one who's going to save all the girls who have been turned to swans.
"Odile is like (evil sorcerer) von Rothbart's daughter. He makes her look like Odette and makes her do his bidding. And there's a part where she is seeking his approval and he is pleased with how she seduces Siegfried. When Odette finds she's been betrayed, it takes her some time to warm up to Siegfreid again. And, in the pas de deux, I look at it more in the way that Odette is saying goodbye to Siegfried."
Kage said reworking "Swan Lake" was a challenge. He first did it with the Malmo Opera Ballet in Sweden. The ballet was awarded the Thalia prize for Sweden's best production in 1993.
He had to find a balance in the choreography of Ivanov and Petipa and himself when he revised the work, Kage said. "There is a rich tradition with 'Swan Lake.' I had to decide what needed to be taken out and what needed to be added. I needed to leave things in for tradition.
"But I also had to rework things for the future. The second act is totally intact, but the fourth act is mostly my work."
If you go . . .
What: "Swan Lake," Ballet West
Where: Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South
When: Friday through April 22, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 p.m.
How much: $17-$65
Phone: 355-2787 or 888-451-2787
Web: www.arttix.org
E-mail: scott@desnews.com