The Winger » Performance Log- Swan Lake Pt.2

Performance Log- Swan Lake Pt.2

June 3, 2008 at 12:57 pm · Filed under dance, DAVID, david hallberg

DAVID HALLBERG
American Ballet Theatre
New York, NY USA
BIO | POSTS

Photo courtesy of Rosalie O’Connor

Saturday Matinee’s Swan Lake was a very interesting experience for me.

It was my first full length ballet with Veronica Part, who by no means falls short of any of ABT ’stars’. She is Kirov trained, and has been in the company for 6 years. In that time she has put in much dedication and thought to her craft,. The display of that craft was shown on Saturday. She was ravishing, to say the very least. An ideal swan. It was a true pleasure to dance with her,because I knew all the hard work she put in had paid off.

My other ‘interesting experience’ was due to a conversation I had with an artist friend the following day. He mentioned my jump at the end of the ballet… (if you haven’t seen the jump follow THIS link). He said to me that the jump came out of no where, and shocked the whole audience because of its power and conviction (as per what has been discussed in the comments section). He said it lacked the poetry and romanticism that was so present during the rest of the ballet… all of a sudden, I was jumping off a cliff at full force. The audience reacted with gasps, applause and laughter at the sheer force of the jump.

I have always loved this ending. To go full force into a jump like that is so liberating, after 4 acts of a ballet, but is it in true connection with the rest of the ballet? Or am I just looking for that cheap thrill for the audience? My friend said it changed the whole ballet for him. The ending was not a true suicide for true love but a showcase to ‘fly’ off a cliff. And the audience didn’t cry for the death of Odette and Seigfried, but applauded because if the jump. It took away the whole feeling of eternal love.

What do you all think?

Just a showcase for a flashy jump? Only to ruin the end feeling?

OR an act of last despair to die with Odette?

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Rainesford said,

June 3, 2008 @ 2:09 pm

Well, I personally sob during this ending. To me, it translates to a very wild sort desperation and longing; signifying that Seigfried will do anything just to be with Odette. The ending thrills me….it sums up everything I adore about this ballet: Passion, the idea of freedom, and love.

delirium said,

June 3, 2008 @ 2:51 pm

I thought your leap off the cliff was breathtaking and very much in keeping with the ballet.

If I read the mime correctly, in the 4th act, Odette is saying that she needs to die to make things right, while the prince keeps trying to convince her to run off with him. After she dies, he realizes that all is now lost and leaps off the cliff to join her. The force of the leap only underscores his character development as far as I’m concerned.

It was a gorgeous performance from both you and Veronika part, and I hope to see you together on stage again–you are incredibly striking together, and I very much enjoyed your rapport

Susan Tracy said,

June 3, 2008 @ 3:04 pm

It is tragic, unrequited love given as sublime a form as the human body can allow.

After the whole ballet of emotion as translated thru superb technique, it’s completely fitting and in a way, cathartic.

Again - one of the most beautiful Swan Lakes I’ve ever seen.

nysusan said,

June 3, 2008 @ 3:19 pm

David, the jump was perfectly in keeping with the dramatic thrust of the ballet. It was athletic and shocking in its force but it was also poetic, beautiful (just look at the picture you posted – perfect form, fully stretched & extended) and fully expresses Siegfried’s conviction to die with Odette. I was sitting in the middle of the orchestra section and while I definitely heard gasps, there was no laughter from where I was sitting.

While I do love the double suicide ending I do not love this act 4. In general I think it dissipates the emotion rather than really focusing it and it rarely moves me as other productions of Swan Lake do – but you and Veronika moved me to tears on Saturday. You were great together, hope to see the two of you paired up more often.

Sidestep said,

June 3, 2008 @ 4:49 pm

David,

I think Sigfried’s leap should have some relationship to Odette’s. If Odette just slips straight down the edge of the cliff, it can sometimes look strange if Siggie goes vaulting over her - like he has completely missed her. There are so many possibilites for interesting exits. I think you should have a different one for each Odette.

Sidestep

Savanah said,

June 3, 2008 @ 5:51 pm

I think that the final jump sums up all of the tragedy of the ballet into one climactic moment. Siegfried has chosen to end his life because he will only be drowned in despair without Odette. His willingness to follow Odette to the afterlife is evident when he flings himself off of the cliff.

Shuriu said,

June 3, 2008 @ 7:44 pm

I think it’s refreshing that someone besides dance critics discusses ballet. I had forgotten the surprise leap at the end of this version of the ballet until I saw the YouTube segment. The music is SO POWERFUL at the end of the ballet that something LARGER than all the beautiful steps that came before has to answer the call of the music, something that ties in with the ballet’s plot and the intensity of the music. It doesn’t have to be the death leap, however, I feel that it answers the musical challenge.

Is it melodramatic? Yes. Is the music melodramatic? Yes. But please, this is about lovers living outside of the accepted social confines. That’s why the palace divertissement dances are relatively tame and choreographically neat, accomplished, royal even, but not THRILLING. A man falls in love with a woman/animal. Hmmm…. To end with a nice, logical debate or even tempered turns and leaps around Von Rothbart would be disappointing. I would be disappointed by such a boyfriend. After I died and he’d declared unrequited love AND accidentally betrayed me he then behaves rationally? Nah, the leap works.

Emily said,

June 3, 2008 @ 9:23 pm

Wow, that ending brought tears to my eyes. I think it’s beautiful and appropriate for Siegfried to hurl himself over the edge. His grief is pushing him over. Would they rather have a graceful swoon? That would be more laughable.

QQ said,

June 3, 2008 @ 11:52 pm

still mesmerized with the help of a photo. thanks to Rosalie O’Connor.

Your jump made you (David Hallberg) outshine everybody else in that ballet, including the swan (not an “animal” please, btw). but isn’t it supposed to be, the prince is the hero, the star, and therefore the center of all attention (achieved without intention) in swan?

i go to ballet shows with *plans* in my head that i am going to enjoy some perfection of techniques and dancing, but not to be surprised. but when i did get surprised, by the way you did in swan, it only made me realize what a special treat that was!

maybe, if the swan flys to heaven (with the help of some stunt tools), instead of fragilely falling into a pit, your magnificant full-force leap would make more sense to your artist friend? just saying it, because i know i would be very disappointed the next time i see you change to a more poetric romantic *death* leap, just so you not overshadow anyone on the stage.

the audience did cry. they applauded madly not just for the jump, it was for everything. the jump only enhanced an already very impressive performance.

wheather or not you should keep what you’ve been doing is actually in your own heart. i feel.

Katy D said,

June 4, 2008 @ 1:31 am

david,

i think that the jump, though a surprise for the audience, is a fufilling ending

it has always seemed to me that the valient jump shows that seigfried isn’t scared about his fate before him - rather that he gladly dies to be with his only love - his happiness transcends the pain from death

nevertheless i agree with QQ - you are the artist will make the best decision for you

Alannah said,

June 4, 2008 @ 1:47 am

I think it’s perfect, it makes me cry.

victoire said,

June 4, 2008 @ 2:41 am

I strongly agree with many of the other comments, especially those pertaining to the notion that the jump is definitely the romantic type of closure the story needs. The glorious music also calls for it, and ending it in any way other than Siegfried’s jump would be anticlimactic to the point of intense disgruntlement. Without it, I would definitely be left wondering about Siegfried’s life afterwards. The forgiveness of Odette and all the preceding events, eventually leading up to THE JUMP really make it clear that their love is for real, and makes the poetry found throughout the ballet even more believable. Judging by his slightly moronic nature (a trait many tragic heroes unfortunately exhibit, take Romeo for example), I’d almost expect him to have an Odile type of incident again if he hadn’t ended his life for Odette. The intensely emotionally driven series of behaviors Siegfried exhibits prior to the jump, and of course the jump itself, are really indicative of his total dedication to his love with Odette. I find that his act of desperation not only fits well, but it gives the audience the climax they’re craving. I actually find it to be the utter epitome of the poetry and romanticism of the ballet, in contrast to your friend’s opinion. I’m not sure if I was too swept up with emotion to notice - but I definitely did not hear any applause or laughter after the jump. Gasps, yes, but none of the latter. I for one was too touched to even think about applauding a “showy” jump, because it seemed to fit so perfectly and was executed SO WELL. I’ve seen ABT’s version of swan lake many times and even own the DVD, but never have I found myself so touched. I was emotionally rattled the rest of the day (in a good way of course), as I’d never seen the jump done so well with such passion, poise, height, and drama… the slur of adjectives could go on forever. The way you held yourself, looking resolutely yet soulfully towards the heavens made the moment nothing short of profound. There were tears, which doesn’t happen too often in my case! I just felt a vehement desire to state that YES! I absolutely love the ending, and the ballet just wouldn’t have the same effect on me without it.

Barbara said,

June 4, 2008 @ 11:18 am

David, I must disagree with your friend. Your leap is simply perfection and exactly in keeping with the intent of the ballet. From the moment you realize you’re not able to convince Odette to stay with you on earth your dancing shows that you are out of your mind with guilt and despair, you stagger your way up the cliff and hurl yourself into the lake. I think if the leap was more poetic (swoony?) it wouldn’t ring with convinction. It IS a thrill for the audience, but a cheap thrill, no. A perfect cathartic way to end a beautiful ballet. Bravo!!!

Mara said,

June 4, 2008 @ 11:28 am

was just thinking how BEAUTIFUL the jump was…

Alexandra said,

June 4, 2008 @ 12:35 pm

I think a leap like that is fine! Death is the ultimate realtiy check, so it makes sense that this last leap should shock the senses. And why not save the best for last? They don’t call such things “swan songs” for nothing.

bill said,

June 4, 2008 @ 2:49 pm

I’ve heard tales of Siegfried and Odette bouncing back into sight (by mistake of course) after their leaps — that would be bad. Otherwise, the leaps don’t break up the flow of the performance for me. Now Von Rothbart hamming it up after the leaps I find distracting…

xtanzer said,

June 4, 2008 @ 3:03 pm

David,
From my point of view, and my lovely date who sat next to me for the Tuesday performance (with Michelle as the Swan), it was an absolutely WONDERFUL ending, the way you jumped into the lake. Passionate and poetic. I think it’s a totally valid “gesture” and I assure you no one around us was “laughing”. It’s quite striking and it definitely works. My date loved it - she cried….
In the end, of course, you have to do what feels right to you… Trust your gut. Your instincts have always been right on in your dramatic roles. If you “love” this ending, stick with it. From our point of view it’s both powerful and wonderful - and it feels right to us too. In no way, shape or form did it take away from anything happening on stage. My God, Siegfried feels responsible for all that’s happened, he runs desperately into the forest to find her and beg forgiveness, he almost has some redemption but realizes it’s totally hopeless, Odette has cast herself into the lake (Michele did a pretty nice jump herself) and you’re about to follow her. What do you do? Step off? The whole scene built logically and dramatically to the leap you did. It worked perfectly. Trust your gut…
…and thank you for the absolutely stunning performance.

–xtanzer

just_a_fan said,

June 4, 2008 @ 5:30 pm

I can’t resist…
I can’t believe someone didn’t say “David! You should do a swan dive next time!”

Okay. I know, I know.
:-)

tonya said,

June 4, 2008 @ 7:22 pm

If people were laughing it’s because they can’t believe anyone could do anything so physically astounding. When I saw it last year, there was some laughing around me, as there was this year when Angel did his insane pirouette fouette sequence so fast he was a blur, as there was when Marcelo turned Julie with one hand the year before last, when Daniel Ulbrich at NYCB did those crazy sky-high jumps in Prodigal Son etc. etc. Laughter definitely doesn’t mean people think something is bad; rather it signals the audience is overjoyed that something could be so great.

To be honest, my friend who I brought with me to your Swan last year (who is new to dance) thought your dive was the best part of the whole thing. She couldn’t understand why everyone didn’t dance with that “passion” and “intensity” throughout. It just shows how different newcomers and old timers think.

I think it’s cute that you asked us for our opinions though. How funny would it have been if Nureyev would have asked his readers in a blog what they thought about his high demi-pointe

Also, if she is indeed thinking of leaving ABT (there are rumors going both ways), please tell Veronika she has a great great great many fans and to please STAY!!!

Stephanie said,

June 4, 2008 @ 10:52 pm

I think the jump is supposed to be abrupt and somewhat violent…their death is. It’s an act of desperation, sadness and ultimately devotion. It’s not really a cheap parlor trick so much as a punch in the stomach. You should react viscerally to it because it’s a visceral scene/emotion.

QQ said,

June 5, 2008 @ 8:25 am

David,

were you convinced that you were totally in “despair to die with Odette” at the moment of the jump? (if that’s the way you/the director want to portray the prince’s last act.) because if you were totally convinced of your feeling of despair at that moment, the audience (e.g. your artist friend) would feel it too.

i remember you mentioned salvation somewhere, which’s hope, for an eternal love in another world. that sounds a nice interpretation of the prince’s last jump too. but the feelings would be different.

whichever way you choose to portray the character, please don’t sacrifice the *JUMP* . adjust emotions inside, the dancing will natually follow, i assume. right?

(my questions here are not meant for you to answer me. they are yours to keep. )

neodancer said,

June 5, 2008 @ 4:14 pm

If someone was not intimately familiar with the ballet, I could see how someone could view the jump as humorous. However, I echo many of the statements above. It’s a death rattle, and a beautiful one at that. It is called for in the grandeur of the music and the fantastical circumstances of the plot. I wouldn’t over think it - I think you’re doing more than okay

I have to mention the SET though…oooh isn’t that sunrise glorious?! Bravo to your designer!

xtanzer said,

June 5, 2008 @ 5:23 pm

By the way, we were excited when we saw the youtube link. We thought finally there would be a video of David dancing on youtube. Not that w didn’t like seeing Angel, but he’s “available on DVD” or has other videos posted. Lots of dancers (and ballet fans I imagine) look for ballet videos on youtube. Many great dance videos. Great Bocca videos…but none of David!

It sure would be nice to see David dancing Tchai Pas or Albrecht’s variation on youtube.

–xtanzer