Why you can’t miss Swan Lake’s enchanting run at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

For the first time in its 175-year history, the world-renowned State Ballet of Georgia will bring their production of Swan Lake to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre this November.

Composed by Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake first premiered in 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Initially opening to mixed reviews—critics supposedly found the music too complex and the choreography underwhelming—the show really gained prominence following the 1895 revival by the Imperial Ballet (now the Mariinsky Ballet) in St. Petersburg. And well, its enduring popularity speaks for itself. 

Telling the tragic romance of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse, the ballet is known for its themes of good vs evil, light vs dark, hope vs despair… not to mention the incredible costumes, choreography and music. 

For Laura Fernandez, one of two ballerinas cast in the dual role of Odette (the White Swan) and Odile (the Black Swan) in the State Ballet of Georgia’s production, it all comes back to the story. “The most impressive thing about this ballet is the contrast between the two different characters, Odette and Odile. They’re completely different; one is very fragile, calm and insecure, kind of more inside herself. And then you have the Black Swan, who is like ‘Here I am’. She’s a diva. She has character, she’s strong and has fight. I love it when a ballerina can show us those two different personalities. A really great ballet dancer can give that emotion to the audience.” Having recently seen Laura perform at the London Coliseum, I can confidently say that she did just that.

Nino Samdashvili, who plays Odette/Odile in alternate shows, agrees. “Swan Lake was my first big role in the company when I joined. You need to be ready inside to take on the challenge because it’s a big thing to play these different characters. It’s very important that you give all those emotions to the audience, that they can really feel it, not just see and forget. I want them to leave and still be in the depths of those feelings. That is very important.”

Based at the stunning Opera and Ballet State Theatre in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, the company has soared under the bold artistic direction of acclaimed dancer Nina Ananiashvili, former prima ballerina with Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Widely regarded as one of the all-time greats, Ananiashvili returned home to her native Georgia in 2004 to lead the company. After 20 years at its helm, she’s finally bringing the show to Dublin. 

“The more we travel, the more we perform, the more people we introduce to our country,” Ananiashvili tells me backstage before the show. “Getting to perform in theatres like the London Coliseum makes me proud. I’m not working for nothing, I’m working to introduce Georgian ballet to the world.”

Considered among the world’s 10 best classical companies, with a tradition of 175 years, their production stays true to the classic, though it condenses the show slightly into just two acts and *spoiler alert* it has a happy ending. For their Dublin dates, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra has been enlisted to perform Tchaikovsky’s original composition. 

While ballet as an art form can often feel inaccessible, this particular show bucks that trend, inviting audiences into this enchanting world. Both Ananiashvili and Fernandez describe dance as universal – “a kind of communication without words,” as Laura puts it. “We can’t use words, everything is through our movements. That’s the magic of ballet. It’s universal because everyone can understand.” 

“It’s between us and the audience,” continues Ananiashvili. “Swan Lake is one of our best repertoires. It combines elaborate costumes, stunning choreography, exquisite ornaments and the young generation of dancers with Georgian characteristics. Swan Lake has always had an important place in my career. It was my first dance that I performed in the Bolshoi Theatre and was my first and final significant performance at American Ballet Theatre. I can’t wait to share it with audiences in Dublin for the first time.”

The State Ballet of Georgia brings their production of Swan Lake to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre November 20 – 24. Tickets are priced from €31.50 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster.