‘Swan Lake’ comes to life

Preview by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, April 27, 2007  

Irek Muchalski and Rachael Fraser star in “Spring Ballet Expressions.”

Irek Muchalski and Rachael Fraser.

There are two ways to fully understand “Swan Lake,” the 130-year-old Russian play fashioned from the German tale of Princess Odette, her quest for love, and desire to escape from a curse that renders her non-human.

One could go online, click on Wikipedia, and read the work’s 10,652-word history. Heavy imagination will be required as you study in great detail the production’s three acts – sometimes four – and 29 scenes; the theatrical battle between good (Prince Siegfried) and evil (sorcerer Von Rothbart); and the complexity of the ballet steps. Strenuous thought will be necessary as you compare and contrast Tchaikovsky’s original work with Petipa and Ivanov’s re-imagining.

Or, you could watch Rachael Fraser dance. For, say, 30 seconds.

In less than one minute, audiences will have a clear and visual picture of a beautiful princess, trapped and fighting to find love and freedom. They’ll also understand why ballet is described as graceful, romantic and ethereal.

Simply put, when the Grand Island dancer performs as Odette, the story makes sense. Neither words nor imagination are required. It becomes real.

Excerpts from “Swan Lake” will be part of the Greater Niagara Ballet Company’s presentation “Spring Ballet Expressions.” The triumvirate, also featuring “Peter and the Wolf” and “Clowns” (Saturday, May 12, Niagara Falls High School), will treat viewers to performances alternately poignant and childlike.

In “Peter and the Wolf,” the protagonist leaves his grandfather’s garden gate open, only to find said villain in pursuit of the family’s livestock.

“We usually don’t do anything like that,” says Alexa Luczak, the Lewiston ballerina portraying the wolf. “It’s more like real life than anything else.”

Adds Erin Keegan of Youngstown, “Younger kids are going to like this a lot more – it’s more colorful; it’s more spring-like.”

“Clowns” is a more dramatic presentation: Its musical catalyst, the song “Send in the Clowns,” is a reference to a means of showbiz distraction when something goes wrong.

Lewiston’s Nicole Grenga, who portrays one of the clowns, says the middle act is “very different than anything we’ve done in the past. It’s a lot more exciting. … It’s a different style of dancing.”

“Swan Lake” is, of course, the better known ballet, and the most enchanting of the three. Fraser says the panoply thrives because of its character interaction. “The feeling comes from the relationship between Irek (Muchalski, portraying Siegfried) and I.” The acting “puts a lot more meaning behind” the dancing.

With three plays, the GNBC, under the direction of Beverley Feder, is offering a mix of entertaining, enjoyable performances, showcasing many types of choreography and the best dancers in Western New York.

“It gives people a taste of everything,” Fraser says.

Amanda Martin of Niagara Falls says “Spring Ballet Expressions,” as a whole, is “a higher level … than what we’re used to; so we’re growing as a company.”

Aside from the advanced routines, the GNBC cast will also work with advanced performers when National Ballet Company members Amanda Spracklen, Mary Steward and Cara Feder Schrack join the troupe as guest swans.

Fraser, a teacher at Grand Island High School, looks forward to working with each artist.

“It’s exciting to be able to work with professional dancers from all around,” she says.

“Spring Ballet Expressions” will be presented at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Niagara Falls High School’s Performing Arts Center, 4455 Porter Road. For more information, visit www.niagaraballet.org.

Rachael Fraser		Send In the Clowns.”