Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Jonathan Porretta in Swan Lake.
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IF YOU GO
Where: Pacific Northwest Ballet, McCaw Hall, 321 Harrison St., Seattle.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday through April 18, plus 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 19.
Admission: Tickets are $25 to $160. Tickets to the Friday show are $15 for ages 25 and younger, or $25 for two (there is limited availability for these tickets).
Length: About three hours, with two 20-minute intermissions and one 5-minute pause.
Note for Parents: Go to PNB’s Web site before the ballet and read a synopsis of Swan Lake with your kids. Also online are tips on what to wear, what’s available to eat, and more. And a reminder to moms and dads who worry their little ones might make too much noise: There are monitors in the lobby where rabble-rousers can be taken if need be.
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Swan Lake makes a great first ballet for children. It has several elements that hold kids’ interest: a story that’s easy to follow, colorful costumes, majestic sets and a recognizable score.
There were quite a few children in the audience opening night for this year’s show, which runs through April 19. Little girls were liberally sprinkled throughout the hall, many in dresses with enough tulle and sparkles to rival the ballerinas onstage.
The magic begins in Swan Lake the moment the massive red sparkly curtain goes up, and the stage is filled with dancers in a colorful party scene. The costumes throughout this classic ballet are dazzling – lots of color, lots of tulle and tutus.
The story of Swan Lake is quite simple. Prince Siegfried meets and falls in love with beautiful Odette. She is under an evil sorcerer’s spell, and must take the form of a swan each night. Siegfried promises to remain faithful to her forever, in order to break the spell and return her to human form. He is then bewitched by the sorcerer’s evil daughter Odile, and vows to marry her. Of course this dooms Odette to life as a swan, and the heartbroken Siegfried is left alone.
The production is a long one – about three hours - so some of the youngsters were drooping by the end of the show. In fact, a few had wilted altogether and had to be carried out. There are two intermissions, though, so it would be easy to leave if need be during one of those breaks in the action.
Swan Lake is classical ballet at its best. At one point, 24 white swans dance in front of a huge golden moon. They’re wearing pristine white tutus. The lavishly romantic Tchaikovsky score is swelling up from the orchestra pit. Pure magic. What an enchanting and wonderful introduction to the world of ballet.
Chris Stay is calendar editor for Seattle’s Child.
