Swan Lake Ballet

...Will it be a Happy Ending?

Search for ballet info on this site:-

Swan Lake tells the story of a beautiful young lady called Odette. An evil magician has turned Odette into a white swan. The only way she can be saved is if a man truly promises that he loves her.

What Ruins Most Dancers? Most trainee dancers ultimately fail... WHY? Find out from Odette for free...

All the villagers are gathered for Prince Siegfried's birthday. Prince Siegfried's mother tells him that he must soon find someone to marry.

Some versions say that Prince Siegfried must find someone at his celebration. Others say he can marry anyone in the Kingdom.

Whilst Prince Siegfried is in the forest he spots Odette. He notices this beautiful swan and falls in love.

Odette is under a spell by the evil magician Von Rothbart. Odette tells Prince Siegfried that the only way the spell can be broken is if a man truly promises that he loves her.

When Prince Siegfried returns to his celebration his mother presents him with several potential princesses.

They are all beautiful young ladies but it's not them who Prince Siegfried wants. Prince Siegfried cannot stop thinking about Odette.

© John Ross

The evil magician, Von Rothbart, arrives to the celebration in disguise.

Von Rothbart is aware that Prince Siegfried is falling in love with Odette. Von Rothbart tries to stop this; he doesn't want his spell broken.

Von Rothbart has brought his daughter called Odile to the celebration too. Von Rothbart wants to use Odile to trick Prince Siegfried.

Odile is near identical to Odette. Their only difference is Odile wears black and Odette wears white.

Prince Siegfried is enchanted by Odile. He dances with her and believes that she is Odette. Therefore Prince Siegfried reveals his love he feels for her.

However, soon after he notices the real Odette. She has been watching him through a window.

Odette is so hurt by Prince Siegfried revealing his love and she vanishes into the night.

Prince Siegfried realizes the mistake he has made. He quickly departs from the party to run after Odette.

Some people may believe that the Swan Lake ballet has a happy ending, others may not.

The end of the Swan Lake ballet has many different versions so you can decide in which ending you want to believe in.

Prince Siegfried finds Odette by the lake. He shows he is truly sorry and so Odette forgives him.

This is because of how Prince Siegfried accidentally revealed his love to Odile.

Prince Siegfried and Odette are madly in love, they want to stay together forever.

So they decide it would be best to die together.

Photo sourced from musiccenter.org

If they die then Von Rothbart will too because his power for them would go.

Prince Siegfried and Odette jump into the lake and drown together.

return from Swan Lake Ballet to Ballet Dancers Guide homepage or alternatively back to Ballet Stories