swan lake with diana vishneva {abt}

Right now the American Ballet Theater is in full force with all the classic performances. This week is Tchaikovsky's tragic classic Swan Lake and I got to see the critically-acclaimed Diana Vishneva {as Odette/Odile} and Marcelo Gomes {as the Prince}. I've seen Diana Vishneva before when she performed contemporary at the City Center. And from that point on, I knew I wanted to see her in a classic ABT performance. And last night was that night - she was everything I thought she would be and MORE. From the moment she fluttered onto the stage, she was a dancer transformed into a swan. And as she continued to move with amazing flexibility and fluid but strong dancing, you could feel the tragic emotion of her character. In Act 2, there is a duet of Odette and the Prince - where they meet in the forest - and I was completely floored and moved. And I wasn't the only one - they came out for 3 or 4 curtain bows in the midst of the performance. The MET was a full house and when the final curtain went down, it was a full standing ovation with flowers galore thrown onto the stage {blurry photograph above}. Another moment of feeling so lucky to live here in NYC and having the option to experience such things...

{Above photo of Diana Vishneva as Odette: Courtesy of ABT website}