Video Link > A magic moment: the flying boat at the end of ‘Swan Lake’

Anthony Dowell’s production of ‘Swan Lake’ for The Royal Ballet has designs by Yolanda Sonnabend. Sonnabend’s designs for ‘Swan Lake’ set the ballet in Imperial Russia, close to the time at which it was written. Her designs for the ballet draw on the image of the Fabergé egg for inspiration. These eggs were fantastical Easter gifts, first created by the jeweller Fabergé in 1885 for the Czarina Maria during the rule of Czar Alexander III of Russia. The eggs became a tradition, each one opening to reveal an intricate surprise. In total more than 50 eggs were created, each one unique.

Video Link > Yolanda Sonnabend’s designs for ‘Swan Lake’

Yolanda Sonnabend is known for her designs for ballet, opera, and theatre. She studied painting and theatre design at the Slade School of Fine Art. Her many credits include work for The Royal Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, K Ballet Japan, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Video Link > Lighting, design and materials: creating a complete picture on stage

Video Link > Creating space and atmosphere with designs and lighting

Video Link > Backstage: a time lapse video of a scene change in ‘Swan Lake’

The evil magician Von Rothbart appears as an owl-like bird in Acts II and IV.

In Act III, as Odile is dancing with Siegfried, Odette appears in the mirror to try to warn Siegfried.

Immediately after Von Rothbart and Odile arrive at the ball in Act III, dancers from Spain, Hungary, Italy, and Russia perform to honour the prince.

Yolanda Sonnabend chose to put the corps de ballet swans for this production into longer tutu dresses, rather than short classical tutus. Some of the swans in Act IV appear in the black dresses shown here.

Video Link > The swan costumes