Peasant pas de trois, an extract from Swan LakeEnglish National Ballet
Act I
Prince Siegfried arrives at his 21st birthday celebration in the palace courtyards. Here, he finds all of the royal families and townspeople dancing and celebrating, while the young women are anxiously seeking his attention.
A Production Still from Swan Lake by Laurent LiotardoEnglish National Ballet
During the birthday celebration, his mother gives him a crossbow. She informs him that because he is now of age, his marriage will be quickly arranged. He takes his crossbow and runs to the woods with his hunting group.
Act II
Running ahead of the group Siegfried comes across a beautiful, still lake, the Swan Lake where a tranquil host of swans glide across the waters.
Jurgita Dronina and Isaac Hernandez star in Swan Lake by Laurent LiotardoEnglish National Ballet
Then enters Odette, the Swan Queen, currently appearing as a woman now it is sundown; Siegfried instantly falls in love.
Odette informs the prince about an evil sorcerer, Von Rothbart, who turned her and her sisters to swans by day.
Before he can confess his love, they are interrupted by the evil sorcerer. Odette is taken from Prince Siegfried and Von Rothbart commands all of the swan maidens to block the prince from her.
They flee and Siegfried is left by the shore of the tranquil lake.
The Black Swan by Laurent LiotardoEnglish National Ballet
Act III
Back at the castle, Siegfried meets his potential brides but none replace Odette in his heart.
The trumpets sound and announce the entrance of Von Rothbart and the Black Swan, Odile, enchanted to look like Odette.
The Prince, thinking she is Odette, declares his love to her and proposes they marry. The real Odette, watching from the window is horrified and flees to the lake.
Siegfried, realising his mistake follows.
A Production Still from Swan Lake by Laurent LiotardoEnglish National Ballet
Act IV
Odette returns to the lake where she is consoled by her sisters. Siegfried arrives and confirms his love for Odette, as Von Rothbart returns as well, summoning a violent storm and threatening to separate the lovers.
A Production Still from Swan Lake by Laurent LiotardoEnglish National Ballet
Odette and Siegfried refuse to be separated and, hand in hand, leap from the cliff into the lake.
The spell is lifted and Von Rothbart is defeated. As the sun rises the swans transform back into women, the apotheosis of Siegfried and Odette is complete and the curtain falls.
