David Hallberg’s restoration of Anne Woolliams’ iconic Swan Lake finally arrives in Sydney, rounding out The Australian Ballet’s 60th anniversary. In 1977, Woolliams ruffled feathers by giving the ballet a happy ending. Later revivals yielded to demands for a tragic denouement. Which approach has Hallberg taken? Audiences in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane already know, and it’s Sydney’s turn to find out.

Limelight Editor’s Choice

An enduring love story that has played a recurring role in the history of The Australian Ballet, the timeless Swan Lake is reinvented by Artistic Director David Hallberg in 2023. Inspired by Anne Woolliams’ 1977 production, this creation marks David Hallberg’s first major commission for the company as the centrepiece of the 60th anniversary celebrations.

Exploring the ballet’s themes of yearning, betrayal and love through a refreshing new lens, this adaptation will embody the beauty and power of the art form and honour our company’s commitment to classical repertoire. Through David’s vision, audiences will be enraptured with ballet’s iconic characters: Prince Siegfried, the Swan Queen Odette and her evil counterpart Odile, in a story of doomed love that continues to move audiences all over the world.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s poignant score, Swan Lake presents ballet’s most famous scenes, including the resplendent Act II pas de deux for Siegfried and Odette. This Swan Lake reinterprets the time-honoured masterpiece as never witnessed before, a work that will redefine ballet history for generations to come.

Swan Lake has been entirely funded through donations from our generous ballet community.