By Catherine E. Wood

Young lovers, Odette and Siegfried dance among the swans.

This summer, the Imperial Russian Ballet debuts the very first arts performance in the Water Cube: Swan Lake, the perfect, quintessential fairy tale ballet. This gives Beijing the wonderful opportunity to once again bridge across cultures using arts and sports; two apparatuses that do not require the use of language.

With a cast of over 60 performers, including: dancers, synchronized swimmers, and divers; Prince Siegfried struggles to win the affections of the fair Princess Odette in a completely original way. The Water Cube allows for a new twist on an old, familiar story by creating a magical fairyland around the Olympic pools.

Evil Princess Odile has tricked Prince Siegfried into thinking she is his beloved Odette, he has vowed to marry her.

This version of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, features the largest indoor lake in the world and is the first ever "sports-version" anywhere, making the Beijing showcase even more special. Traditional ballets only allow audience members to see the performance from two-dimensions, making their experience more like peaking into a story rather than being a part of it. Because of the unique set up that the venue provides, Swan Lake is staged in a way that is absolutely genus; allowing visitors to become part of the story by introducing three-dimensions, and with it, the power of movement through space.

Cleverly, Swan Lake uses the complete space of the venue. A full stage is suspended over the far side of the racing pool, providing a traditional point of focus; the main racing pool is transformed into the beautiful lake, the home of Princess Odette; a secondary stage is positioned between the diving pools and racing pools, and even the diving platforms are utilized, adding a sense of drama and danger to the story.

Ballet has always been a beautiful way to tell a story, especially to an international audience. Dance is the true universal language, and can reach beyond any cultural boundaries it encounters. It brings people together for a shared experience and creates warmth within our hearts.

Prince Siegfried finally found his beautiful Princess Odette and dramatically chooses to die with her than to marry the evil Princess Odile.

Beijing is utilizing the power of the arts to cross cultural boundaries while experimenting with dual functions of The Water Cube. It is venue events like this, which may keep Beijing from having to sell off the naming rights to the Water Cube, a current controversial issue sweeping all Olympic venues.

Swan Lake runs nightly through August 29, 2009.
Ticket prices range from 200-600 yuan each; ticket packages are available for 2 or more.
Children under 1.2 m are admitted free of charge.

(China.org.cn July 3, 2009)