California Ballet's celebrated Swank Lake

Famed in the state for their ambitious ballets including The Great Gatsby, Romeo and Juliet and of course, the Nutcracker, California Ballet delve into their classical repertoire with their charming production of Swan Lake, last seen in 2013. A tale of seduction, innocence and sorcery are the key themes in the world's most famous ballet work by Tchaikovsky. Under the leadership of Maxine Mahon, the 2017/18 season marks the 50th anniversary of the San Diego-based company. With its timeless choreography by classical ballet's finest duo Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and Tchaikovsky's sublime score, this supernatural tale of transformed maidens, villainous sorcerers and finding true love is a glorious introduction to ballet.

Dashing Prince Siegfried is urged by his mother to marry soon and she bids he makes his choice the following night, at the royal ball. Frustrated, he goes hunting with his friends and becomes separated. Whilst trying to find a way home, he is astonished to witness the transformation of one of the swans marked for prey into a beautiful maiden. He falls deeply in love, but the swan maiden is terrified of him. Out of fear, she divulges that she and her companions are victims of an evil spell, cast by the sorcerer, Von Rothbart, who traps them on the lake and as swans by day and human by night. The only way to break this spell is for one who has never loved before to love her, The Swan Queen.