Corvallis Gazette-Times from Corvallis, Oregon • 49

Friday, March 6-13. 2009, Corvallis (OR) Gazette-Times and Albany (OR) Democrat-Herald ENTBTOfiffB 9 'a 1 KENT PETERSON I CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A scene from Eugene Ballet Company's "Swan Lake' which will be staged in Corvallis for one show only at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, at LaSells Eugene Ballet Company brings 'quintessential' classical ballet BY NANCY RASKAUSKAS THE ENTERTAINER CORVALLIS -The Eugene Ballet, with the help of local ballet students will stage Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake," one of the most beloved works in the history of classical ballet at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, at LaSells Stewart Center at Oregon State University. The ballet, set to the music of Tchaikovsky, is a variation on Russian folk tales and tells the story of Princess Odette who is transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Van Roth-bart.

When the young Prince Siegfried falls in love with the enchanted swan maiden and tries to break the curse by marrying her, Rothbart is determined to force the Prince to break his vow to Odette, and tries to fool the prince into marrying his wicked daughter Odile. Depending on the ballet, from there, the story can have different endings. In the Eugene Ballet Company's version which was staged by South African choreographers Denise Shultz and Louis Godfrey, the ending is a happy one. "Supposedly Odette and Prince Siegfried live happily ever after," said Eugene Ballet Company artist director Toni Pimble. "Inmany versions that's not the case." "Usually, they throw themselves into the lake so that they can be together in death," she said.

Thecompany'sversionsuTl maintains many similarities byLevIvanovandMarius Stewart Center. It's a very demanding role." "It's very exciting to see this young partnership flourishing," Pimble said referring to the leads. "We'll all be crossing our fingers for them on Friday night. It will be very exciting for all of us. I know all the dancers will be watching from the wings." 1 crowbar TAMullI CXKTAJLS 214 SW 2ND- 753-7373 (iNTHTHt AlttY OUTHHOUCHTW DOWNTOWN MIAMI 1m Prince Siegfried.

Another young Korean dancer, Hyuk-Ku Kwon, will perform the role of Von Rothbart. "For the ballerina, the challenging thing about the role is that it's a dual -role between the Swan Princess Odette and the wicked daughter of Von Rothbart, Odile," Pimble said. "So she gets to play both roles, the good and the bad. Technically and acting-wise she has to show the difference between the two characters. Til it out "Swan Lake," Eugene Bah let Company, 730 p.m.

Friday, March 6. LaSells Stewart Center. Oregon State University. Admission: (www.ticketswest.eom or 800-992 -8499). University students -with ID may purchase tickets for $10 at the door one hour before performance.

For more infer- mation on Eugene Ballet Com-. parry, see www.eugeneballeLorg. quate as the already skilled students just need to learn very simple walking about and placements for the performance and the professional dancers will give them cues for when to do their entrances and exits. "I think what is really wonderful for them, and always is for any young student, is the opportunity to be on stage and see professional dancers in top form performing," Pimble said. "Of course with 'Swan Lake' there is so many things 'I think what is really wonderful for them, and always is for any young student, is the opportunity to be on stage and see professional dancers in top TONI PIMBLE EUGENE BALLET ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Petipa, accordingto Pimble.

"The basic outline the basic steps are the same as they did in 1894, when (they) first premiered it in Russia." In continuation of a long tradition, the Eugene Ballet Company will share the stage with local dance students, in this case from the Willamette Apprentice Ballet of Corvallis, directed by Megan Skinner. The students, who will play court ladies and pages, will only rehearse with the company for four hours Pimble, that should be ade- VIDEO: To see video of scenes from Eugene Ballet Company's recent performances of Swan Lake, see this article at www.gazettetimes.com entertainment. "In Act III, that's the famous 'Black Swan Pas de with Prince Siegfried and Von Rothbart's daughter Odile and she has to perform 32 fouettes (a whipped movement of the raised foot)," Pimble said. "It's something that all young dancers should aspire to be able to do. It's just a technical feat." At the Corvallis show, the challenge of pulling off all those tricky fouettes will fall to Yun-Kyung Kim, a rising star within the company from Korea, who will premiere in the role of OdetteOdile opposite Juan Carlos Amy-Cordero as I Sizes 5x7 to 16x20 Mi S1 about it that are the quirites -sential classical ballet.".