Swan Lake is easily the most recognized and beloved ballet of all time. The history of the production traces back to 1875, but the iteration with which US audiences is most familiar is the version by Marius Petipa (1895).
Known for its complicated and challenging choreography for the corps de ballet, the most notable role is that of Odette and her antagonist Odile (the daughter of “evil Von Rothbart,” magically disguised at Odette). The same dancer most often portrays these two characters. These two roles, seen by most professional dancers as a career milestone, includes dynamic character shifts and a range of choreography that moves between intricate to playful.
Ballet Austin Company alumna, Aara Krumpe, who danced this lead role in 2015, returns to coach current Company dancers Elise Pekarek and Katherine Deuitch who will each play the roles of Odile and Odette during alternating performances. Below we speak to the three dancers to learn more about this role and the coaching process.
Photos by Anne Marie Bloodgood
What makes the opportunity to play both Odette and Odile such an important highlight in the career of a professional ballet dancer?
AK: “Any lead role in a full-length classical ballet is a major milestone in a dancer’s career. Odette/Odile is unique because it is equivalent to dancing two lead roles, hero and villain, in one ballet.”
EP: “Not only is the role incredibly physically demanding, but there is a grand artistic complexity of the characters that is equally challenging. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to demonstrate physical abilities as well as great artistic depth.”
KD: “It was the first live professional production I saw as a student. I remember leaving the show feeling as though ballet was the most powerful form of storytelling. The lakeside scene so perfectly illustrates the complexities of romance, while the ballroom scene introduces seductive deception, and eventually the absolute devastation of heartbreak.
The same dancer must execute Odette’s technically demanding and emotionally vulnerable choreography, as well as dance the ostentatious choreography performed by Odile. It is truly a marathon for the dancer, yet the range of emotions portrayed throughout make the physical challenges all the more fulfilling.”
In dancing this role, what most excites you?
EP: “I am so very excited to fully live Odette’s journey from start to finish on stage. I am looking forward to the rehearsal process where I will have the opportunity to explore the ways in which I can grow and develop my interpretation of this iconic role. I am also excited to be dancing this special role with one of my best and dearest friends, Morgan Stillman, as my Siegfried.”
KD: “I am most excited to get to a place in the rehearsal/performance process where I can hear the music and automatically feel as though I have become Odette/Odile. Each entrance on stage and each interaction with Prince Siegfried is the next opportunity to explore her character and story, culminating in the infamous climactic end to their love. Odette gets to dance to the best music and Odile is simply fun.”
What do you find most challenging about dancing this role?
AK: “For me, dancing dual roles was very challenging. Not only do they each have a full act of difficult dancing, they also have very different temperaments. And they alternate: Odette, Odile, Odette.”
What do you think will be your greatest challenge in this role?
EP: “I think my biggest challenge will be not comparing my interpretation of the role to that of the many other incredible artists who have danced it so beautifully. It goes without saying that there will be physical challenges and endless ways to add artistry to the performance. I hope to make strong choices and feel as prepared as possible so I can approach the performance with integrity and confidence.”
KD: “The greatest challenge in this role will be getting to a comfortable place both physically and technically where I can be less focused on executing the steps, and more in tune with my character and the music. To me, telling the story and portraying the correct emotions are just as, if not more important than, accomplishing the actual steps. With practice and stamina, the choreography will start to happen naturally.”
Aara, how are you approaching the position of coach, and what do you hope the dancer gets from your time together?
AK: “First, I begin with teaching the steps and the framework of the motivation behind the steps. Once they start to feel comfortable with the physicality, I dive deeper into finding the artistic choices that work best for them. I hope they realize how special it is to honor the past Odette/Odile(s), while also making their mark on the role.”
Elise and Katherine (Katie), what are you hoping to get from your time with Aara?
EP: “I am hoping to absorb all of the lessons Aara learned from her process and experience of dancing this role. Every time I have been lucky enough to revisit a role, I feel that I’m able to kind of pick up where I left off, and add to my performance based on what I’ve learned from the first experience. Aara is an incredibly thoughtful artist, and I know her goal is to help us pick up where she and Ashley left off. That is something so very special to me.”
KD: “Aara has an incredible eye for ballet technique. I am hoping to absorb her attention to detail and her emotional intention in each moment on stage. She has experienced, researched, and danced this role with such passion. I am excited for her to continue to share her love for Swan Lake with me.”
Aara, what is the goal when coaching the dancer portraying these two characters? How does it help the dancer/s as they prepare to bring these roles to the stage?
AK: “Coaching the dancers for this difficult role is very important, especially if they have never danced it before. I am there to teach them the steps, but also to prepare them mentally, physically, and artistically for Odette/Odile. This role can be very intimidating, but I hope to give them the confidence to fully become one with both characters.”
Elise and Katherine (Katie), is the coaching process a helpful one for you?
EP: “Coaching is an incredibly important process and one that we as dancers don’t often get in an intimate way such as this. Learning steps and counts is important but Aara has more to offer because of her experience dancing this specific production of Swan Lake and I’m so thankful for this opportunity to work with her.”
KD: “Absolutely. Aara is passing on her firsthand experience in this role. She has valuable knowledge of technical tips and tricks, musicality, choreographic variations of the steps, personal triumphs and errors, alongside the knowledge passed from the generations before her. She is quick to offer many options for the way I should use my arms and helps guide me toward the best version of the choreography for me. I trust her judgment completely, and hope to leave the process just as in love with this role as she is.”
What do you hope the audience will take away from your performances?
EP: “I hope to move the audience with an emotional interpretation of the character of Odette and be able to accomplish a stark contrast as the character of Odile. Hopefully Morgan and I will leave our audiences with a magical experience!”
KD: “I hope that the audience leaves with similar feelings that I had when I first saw Swan Lake. Ballet can be the most magical form of storytelling, and Odette/Odile are quite the remarkable characters. If I can inspire even one young dancer in the audience, I would call my performance successful.”
This article was first published in the Swan Lake playbill. It is published here courtesy of Ballet Austin. Click here to learn more or read the entire playbill.
