International Ballet brings ‘Swan Lake’ to Peace Center

International Ballet’s upcoming “Swan Lake” is one of the biggest and most ambitious productions the dance company has ever undertaken, a milestone in its 21-year history. For its two performances at the Peace Center, the company is bringing in 13 guest artists, including three dancers from the San Francisco Ballet, one of the world’s most celebrated dance companies.

Production Details

“Swan Lake” is one of the most famous ballets, with an iconic musical score. Producing a four-act classical ballet is a major artistic undertaking, but we felt like the time was right. Edvard Tchivzhel, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra’s music director and conductor emeritus, will lead a 50-piece orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s beloved music for both performances on May 25 and 26.

Having live music is the only way we’d want to do this. It adds so much to the overall experience. The ballet, based on Russian and German folk tales, tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse.

World-class Performers

The production will spotlight San Francisco Ballet soloist Katherine Barkman in the role of Odette/Odile and San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Esteban Hernández in the role of Prince Siegfried. Katherine Barkman and Esteban Hernández are world-class performers so it’s exciting to see talent of this caliber share the stage with our local talent.

Another San Francisco Ballet dancer, Nathaniel Remez, takes on the role of the villainous Rothbart. The production features 25 dancers from International Ballet’s pre-professional program.

Virtuosic Choreography

International Ballet Artistic Director Vlada Kysselova is staging the ballet based on the classic and virtuosic choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. “Swan Lake” is perhaps the most often-performed work by American ballet companies after “The Nutcracker.”

International Ballet has performed extended excerpts from the ballet in the past, but not the entire ballet. The production costs more than $250,000. We’re excited and grateful to our supporters who are making this happen. We’ve been very fortunate to have developed a donor base that really believes in our artistic capabilities.

Performance Information

International Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker,” also featuring a famous Tchaikovsky score, sold out all three performances at the Peace Center this past December.

Event Details:

• What: “Swan Lake”
• When: May 25, 7:30 p.m.; May 26, 3 p.m.
• Where: Peace Center
• Tickets: $25 to $75
• Info: 864-467-3000 or peacecenter.org

International Ballet’s upcoming production of “Swan Lake” promises to be a mesmerizing experience with world-class performers and stunning choreography. Don’t miss out on this iconic ballet at the Peace Center.

About International Ballet

International Ballet is a Greer-based dance company known for its commitment to excellence in classical ballet. With a history of 21 years, the company continues to push boundaries and delight audiences with captivating performances.