Have you ever watched a performance and wondered how it came to be on stage? The journey to a performance on the Royal Opera House stage is an exciting one, involving many different elements. Click on the links to gain a unique and detailed insight into the process of bringing The Royal Ballet's production of 'Swan Lake' to the stage.
'Swan Lake': A Visit to the Ballet ‘Swan Lake’ is perhaps the most famous of all classical ballets. Why is it still performed today, more than 120 years after its creation, and what challenges and rewards does it hold for both performers and audience?
Through the Stage Door: Working at the Royal Opera House The Royal Ballet has over 95 dancers, but many other individuals also contribute to bringing a ballet to the stage. Experience ‘Swan Lake’ from the viewpoints of company director, dancer, physiotherapist, rehearsal director, and costume supervisor and learn what skills they bring to their work.
In the Studio: Dancers and Choreographers at Work How does a choreographer begin to create a new ballet? Find out what choreographer and dancers bring to the creative process, and learn about the daily routines and working relationships that help prepare Royal Ballet dancers for their work as performers.
Curtain Up: Preparing for Performance How does it feel to be sitting in your dressing room right before a performance? Hear from an artist in the crops de ballet, principal dancers, and the orchestra conductor about how they prepare themselves for the performance and what they experience on stage.
Behind the Scenes: Getting a Ballet On Stage What don’t you see when you sit in the auditorium? Learn about the preparations leading up to a performance from first design sketches to the final costume touches. See the work that goes on backstage during the show itself, including a time-lapse video of a set change during ‘Swan Lake’.
