Friday Fabulosity: Dancing that Makes Me Actually Like Swan Lake

On paper, Swan Lake should be fabulous.

In practice, the score is weak and descends into groaning schmaltz if not played gently and with care. If Petipa's choreography is followed, say farewell to any good ensemble work and prepare for endless pas des duex between Odette and the Prince hammering us over the head with the plot point that they are In Love at the expense of the rest of the storyline. And the practice of having the prima dance both Odette and Odile, and relegating Odile to one short appearance, weakens the story even further, especially as it is extremely difficult for one dancer to play both different princesses convincingly.

In short, I would like to like Swan Lake, but so far the only version that I think does it justice is the anime Princess Tutu (exihibt #1 in the series of "anime that are not as silly as their titles sound in English").  In Princess Tutu we learn the stories and the hearts of both the black princess and the white princess, and come to love them both.  The prince stops being boring and develops a personality, and the prince's friend stops being a manly asshole and learns to actually listen to women.  And we meet a host of other minor characters, some tragic, some comic, some strong and kind, some weak and unkind.  And in the end, the power of love and dance triumph, as they should in any fairy tale.

Now, however, right alongside Princess Tutu, I present the Italian rhythmic gymnastics team's take on Swan Lake with 5 hoops at Pesaro, 2017:

All the best parts of the music!  Nods to the traditional choreography while not getting stuck in it, or in white platter tutus!  Breathtaking musicality and coordination and arabesques!  This, this! is what group work is supposed to be.