The production will also include special invitation-only dance Masterclasses conducted by the company
GENTING HIGHLANDS, Malaysia, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Top ballet master and trainer for professional and international competition medallists, Jonathan Barton and famous ballerina Natasha Watson together with Shannon Lee, Director of The Dance Company, Gillian Barton, Founder of Ballet West UK and Audrey Kwan, President of Dance Artistry International were at Resorts World Genting to launch the famous Swan Lake ballet performance at SkyAvenue Mall last Thursday (31 May 2018) together with Kevin Tann, Vice President of Promotions & Entertainment of Resorts World Genting.
According to Barton, "This will be the first professional full-UK-cast, full length Swan Lake ballet in Malaysia. This significant event is a kick-start not only for the ballet industry; but also for the dance industry as a whole, regardless of genre. It creates opportunities for local and international dancers in Malaysia."
"I remember growing up as a child, seeing Malaysia hosting the 98 Commonwealth successfully. 20 years later, I think it's time to put Malaysia in the map again. I believe we can do it, this time through arts and culture," added Shannon.
Six sensational shows await audiences at Genting International Showroom at Resorts World Genting, from August 24 - 26, 2018 and August 31 - September 2, 2018. And masterclasses will be held August 22, 23, 24 and 30, 2018 at the Arena of Stars.
The grand event was launched at the SkySymphony stage, SkyAvenue with the first and largest ballet flash mob dancers totalling 80 dancers performing in the most energetic and powerful excerpt of Swan Lake ever to mark the announcement of The Dance Company and Ballet West first ever full UK cast professional ballet performance, namely Swan Lake by Ballet West in Malaysia.
In his speech, Kevin Tann said, "This is a unique opportunity that only comes once in a blue moon -- Swan Lake, the great ballet performance together with Masterclasses for talented Malaysians to partake."
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's timeless ballet Swan Lake will be gracing the stage of Genting International Showroom, staged by The Dance Company in collaboration with Ballet West. This international production brings the tale of Prince Siegfried and his swan princess Odette to the Resorts World Genting stage, mixing the classical choreography of the ballet as staged by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov at the Kirov Ballet Theatre revival in 1895 choreographed by Ballet West internationally renowned artistic adviser and choreographer Daniel Job who had worked with legends like George Balanchine and Margot Fonteyn.
The 150-minute production (with an intermission) will be led by soloists Jonathan Barton, Natasha Watson and Uyu Hiromoto together with ballerinas from the UK and all over Europe.
Featuring some of the most beloved pieces in the classical canon, Swan Lake is the tale of Prince Siegfried who, when celebrating his birthday with a royal party, meets the beautiful princess Odette by a lake when hunting. Cursed along with other maidens to become swans by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart, the spell can only be broken by true love. Ready to proclaim Odette his wife, the prince and his mother arrange a party, but Von Rothbart has magicked his daughter Odile to resemble Odette. Siegfried is deceived and proclaims his love to Odile, cursing Odette to be a swan forever. Chasing after Odette at the lake, Siegfried faces off with Von Rothbart, but the heartbroken Odette jumps to her death. Siegfried joins her and the purity of their love defeats Von Rothbart as the two lovers are united in the afterlife. The timeless tale is a permanent fixture in the repertoire of all ballet companies, and is revered as the most popular ballet in the world, rivalled only by Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.
In between practising for the iconic Dance of the Cygnets and the dramatic Black Swan scene, the Swan Lake team will also be taking time off between shows to conduct international masterclasses on August 22, 23, 24 and 30, 2018 held at the Arena of Stars.
The masterclasses are open to all Malaysian talents. Dancers will be led through classical ballet choreography as well as contemporary and jazz-based moves. For the masterclass participants, it will be a rare opportunity to perform with international soloists, as well as a chance to be scouted by Ballet West UK. For more information, please contact audrey@dainternational.co.uk.
Kwan said, "As a Malaysian, I am excited about this opportunity for passionate Malaysian dancers to learn from the stars, at an internationally renowned venue. They can experience professional training and have a career option in dance."
Tickets for Swan Lake have been on sale starting from 4 June 2018. Each show seats 1,000, divided between the following categories: PS1 (RM988), PS2 (RM788), PS3 (RM588) and PS4 (RM388). Genting Rewards Card members will receive a 10% discount for tickets bought by cash, credit card or Genting Points for all tickets.
For more information, call +603-2718-1118 or visit www.rwgenting.com.
