Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artistic director Susan Jaffe has seen her fair share of “Swan Lake” productions — and has danced in plenty of them, too.
The New York Times called her interpretation of the ballet’s challenging dual role of Odette (the demure white swan) and Odile (the cunning one) “a beautiful triumph.” She danced the role every year of her 22-year career, beginning at age 19 for American Ballet Theatre.
For PBT’s 2021-22 season closer, Jaffe is putting her own stamp on this gripping story of love and loss with her rendition of it. Dancers will present Jaffe’s “Swan Lake” with the PBT Orchestra May 6-15 at Benedum Center, Downtown.
“I’ve gotten to experience different productions, and I’ve seen what I thought worked and I’ve seen what I thought didn’t work,” Jaffe said. “I wanted to put together my own version based on my thoughts from over all these years.”
The choreography in her adaptation is based on the original from Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with several updates throughout. There also are many new costumes handmade for this production.
The storyline reflects the traditional one: the princess Odette, under a curse by the evil wizard Von Rothbart, lives as a swan by day and in human form by night. When Prince Siegfried sees her transformation from a swan into a beautiful maiden, he discovers that the spell that’s been cast upon her can only be broken if her true love swears his love and faithfulness to her. But the wicked Rothbart and his daughter Odile have other plans.
Jaffe’s changes begin in the first act, with swapping the peasants for aristocrats. Her version also doesn’t have the jester who’s often included for comic relief.
“To me, this [story] is a tragedy, and it’s a tragedy through the whole thing,” she said.
Her choreography in places is also “deathly hard” and requires dancers to be in “their top shape and well rehearsed” to do it well.
“I wanted to give them some challenging material,” Jaffe added.
One of the biggest differences in her production is the fourth act and, in particular, the way the ballet ends.
“But I’m not going to give away the end,” she said.
According to principal Hannah Carter, this one is “more heartbreaking” than the three other “Swan Lake” productions she’s danced in, which include performances with the Royal Ballet School in London and Estonian National Ballet. Jaffe’s depth of experience dancing the ballet is reflected in how her take on it is constructed, Carter said.
“I really like her transition steps, which take you from one main sequence to the next. … It just makes sense,” Carter explained. “Her acting is so impressive, and she is not afraid to jump in and say, ‘Watch me do it.’ And then you watch her do it and go, ‘Oh yes, that’s perfect. That’s exactly how I want to do it.’”
In Jaffe’s production, Carter will dance the Odette/Odile role paired with principal Yoshiaki Nakano as Prince Siegfried. This will be their first time dancing these roles partnered with each other. Other casts will feature soloist Jessica McCann with the corps de ballet’s Colin McCaslin, soloists Marisa Grywalski with Lucius Kirst and soloist William Moore with principal Alexandra Kochis, who will retire after performing in Jaffe’s “Swan Lake.”
Jaffe’s history with the story has helped Nakano sharpen his interpretation of the prince.
“She’s talked with me about her experiences and told me about not like what to do but what I need to feel,” he said. “That put inspiration in me.”
Beyond the swelling Tchaikovsky score, stamina-testing choreography and emotional story, dancers are looking forward to staging “Swan Lake” because of what it represents to each of them personally, too. For Carter, this will be her first mainstage performance since having a baby seven months ago.
“This will become a huge milestone for me after I perform it,” she said.
Nakano looks back fondly on his history with “Swan Lake” because it was the first time he did a lead role in a full-length ballet. Jaffe also has plenty of memories from her years dancing it in the U.S. and abroad.
“‘Swan Lake’ is probably the closest ballet to my heart,” she said.
Sara Bauknecht: @Sara_Bauknecht on Twitter.
First Published: May 4, 2022, 10:23 a.m.
