The Majesty of Swan Lake – in Honour of Tokyo City Ballet’s 50th Anniversary

Published: February 8, 2018

Tokyo City Ballet was established in 1968 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Tokyo City Ballet formed an affiliation with Koto ward in 1994, and has since then been dedicated to the concept of “ballet for everyone – sharing the pleasure and richness of ballet culture.” It organizes many activities in the community in collaboration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs. The company also goes to elementary schools every year in order to explain what ballet is and to get people interested in this art. They’re passionate about spreading the art of ballet from Koto ward to the world!

 

 

For its 50th anniversary, Tokyo City Ballet will perform the famous ballet, Swan Lake. Composed in 1875-76 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake is now one of the most popular works of classical ballet. Swan Lake’s storyline has a logical consistency that makes it accessible even for the casual viewer.

 

 

The artistic director of Tokyo City Ballet is Mrs. Etsuko Adachi. Mrs. Adachi is a world-renowned ballet dancer. As a soloist prima ballerina, she won the first medal of the American Jackson International Competition in 1979. She joined Tokyo City Ballet in 1986. She has starred as a prima ballerina in various ballets like “Swan Lake”, “Giselle”, “Coppelia” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”,and so on.

 

 

Mrs. Adachi encourages anyone and everyone to go and see ballet. “Dance is a body language. Without using any words, and following only the rhythm and the melody of the music, you can tell a story that can be understood by everybody.”

 

 

For this special anniversary, two guest dancers from Berlin State Ballet will perform at this unique event!

 

Mr. Taneo Ishida is choreographing Swan Lake for the fifth time in his life. The choreography for the fourth act is his original!

 

 

Mr. Kazushi Ono will conduct the symphonic orchestra. Mr. Ono is a famous conductor who has performed as chief conductor and music director in the most prestigious orchestra in Europe.He was the permanent conductor of Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1992 to 1999,and then have became the conductor laureate.Since April of 2015, he has been the music director of Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. And in September of this year, he will become the opera director of the New National Theater Tokyo!

 

As a ballet masterpiece, Swan Lake will delight both kids and adults. It’s a unique opportunity you won’t want to miss!

 

 

And spoiler alert!!! The company will perform an original ending of Swan Lake!

 

 

Story and Photos by Aline Lambelet