My First Ballet: Swan Lake Review 4*
An ideal Easter outing for families, English National Ballet’s My First Ballet: Swan Lake is at the Peacock
There were babes in arms and toddlers in strollers. There were little girls in sequinned tulle skirts – pink, naturally. Amazingly well-behaved little boys. And their adults, some of whom looked as excited as the children.
They packed the Peacock Theatre for My First Ballet: Swan Lake, a production by English National Ballet in association with English National Ballet School, designed to introduce young children to ballet by adapting the classics to shorter, easily digested formats.
Because, let’s face it, at around the three hour mark, most of the classics are far too long to hold the attention of small children, no matter how magical the story, the costumes, the music and the dancing.
In the My First Ballet format, Swan Lake lasts a mere 90 minutes, including one interval, and although the young audience became a little restless towards the final 10 minutes or so, on the whole they were held rapt, as indeed were we all.
The introduction of a narrator, who pops up at intervals to guide the audience through the plot, is inspired, and former dancer Araminta Wraith is perfect in the role, illustrating her words with the appropriate ballet mime, and introducing the main characters, principally the swan princess Odette and her prince Siegfried.
Haru Yokoo ad Odette and Zai Calliste as Siegfried in My First Ballet: Swan Lake © Photography by ASH
The plot is slightly different: the role of Odette/Odile has been split into two, Odile now the sister of the sorcerer Rothbart (Luke Jones relishing his dastardly role) and a good friend of Odette’s. An unwitting tool in Rothbart’s plot to fool Siegfried into betraying Odette, she will play a key role in righting her brother’s wrongs. And Rothbart will repent…
With original sets and costumes by Peter Farmer, and a skilful recorded arrangement by maestro Gavin Sutherland of Tchaikovsky’s original score, no corners are cut in what remains a sumptuous, if pared back, spectacle, the moonlit forest with its lake of tears particularly atmospheric.
And, of course, there is the flock of swans, here 12 beautifully marshalled young women, visions of magic and loveliness.
English National Ballet School dancers in My First Ballet: Swan Lake © Photography by ASH
My First Ballet is performed by students of English National Ballet School and its Young Artists Development Programme, who do a wonderful job of negotiating Antonio Castilla’s choreography, which doesn’t spare them the difficulties of the original, not even the notoriously difficult Black Swan pas de deux, with its regulation 32 fouettés, which challenges even seasoned professionals.
As Odile/Black Swan, Lydia Rose Hough, silver medallist in last year’s Fonteyn competition, coped admirably.
Lydia Rose Hough as Odile and Luke Jones and Rothbart in My First Ballet: Swan Lake © Photography by ASH
I was particularly impressed with Haru Yokoo as Odette and Zai Calliste as Siegfried. Yokoo’s technique is smooth and assured and she offered a touchingly vulnerable Odette.
Tall and extremely elegant, Calliste has all the makings of the danseur noble. His arabesque line is beautiful, is soaring ballon ends in soft, neat landings, and his beats are clean and crisp. He is also a safe and attentive partner. My guess? He’ll go far.
In short, My First Ballet: Swan Lake is the ideal outing for children and their grown ups this Easter break. I have no hesitation in recommending it.
© Teresa Guerreiro
(Banner image credit: English National Ballet School dancers in My First Ballet: Swan Lake © Photography by ASH)
My First Ballet: Swan Lake is at the Peacock Theatre 16 – 27 April 2025. All info and tickets here