Dance

Stumbling in desperation
Finding wings for the soul to fly at Swan Lake

“Swan Lake is all about power!” Inverting the hierarchical realm of classical ballet, acclaimed Irish choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan draws attention to the afflictions of modern society through a hauntingly imaginative dance theatre reincarnation of Tchaikovsky’s classic work. In 2000, there was public outcry in Ireland after John Carthy, a young man suffering from depression, was shot dead in a stand-off with police. Deeply touched by this case and other stories of people on the margins of society, Keegan-Dolan propels together Irish myths, magical realism and dark desolation turning Swan Lake traditions into a story for our times. A Carthy-like character replaces the prince while the cursed swans are silent victims of sexual abuse. Alongside such weighty themes and a searing original score, flashes of light and life shine through, taking viewers on a roller-coaster quest to transcend fate and find the redemption made possible through love.