Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake 2

[TheEnglishRedRose]

note to youtube: TOO MANY ADVERTS!!!! stop spoiling swan lake for me!!

[Laurantalasah]

Realmente hermoso!

[ItsTheDJadrian]

my god. suddenly i can feel the freedom of a body im looking at. its just a little child making all beautiful things that can be make by a human body and it is beautiful. And yes, it is not the thing it hangs or not from the puvis. its the beautiful staff the body can do :,D

[hephaestion1990]

I love it. In this masculine fashion, swans are arrogant, natural, organic creatures rather than heavenly beings. Like in Black Swan. I think these new visceral pespective fit better for this story.

[AnimeJanice]

Beautiful and has alot of emotions through the dance and gestures

[musicdivaSF]

Like? No, I love this unique and beautiful production.

[ForCarolToEnjoy]

What a beautiful and artistic share So well danced. Thx Yvonne, for  letting me enjoy the magic of Swan Lake

[MaidOfStone]

I'm perfectly fine with the use of all male dancers but strangely enough this version does make me think of the dancer as an actual swan, unlike in the original ballet, which brings to mind bestiality. :[

[REN1789]

I find it making a much stronger statement than the traditional choreography. In fact, the new, aggressive manner of the movement in this is fascinating.

[Livee2Dancee]

Can anyone tell me what the first piece of music is called in this video?! I need the piece that starts at 1:08 and finishes at 2:37 (i'm pretty sure it's the same piece all the way through but help would be apprecitaed!) inbox or reply to this comment please!

[montyxxrlzxx4eva]

blah blah blah etc, no we shouldnt judge people, yes it is still a wonderful ballet and matthew bourne is indeed a genius but I just love the fact that finally some GUYS are getting credit for doing a ballet all on their own, who says they need a female counterpart???? :)

[ludig1958]

the controversy gay/not gay is stuff for braindeads. what I saw was a magnificent show thant moved me so much.

[susie2010ism]

How do any of us manage that part of us that responds to the wild, the untamed? How do we give and receive love? Who can do truly do so and remain a child?

[pazuzu126]

Man, I would love to see this version. The male swans are so beautiful. I wish this was still playing in New York.

[Heartlessiceboy]

The problem here is that many of us who dance and those who are ballet fans watch the a performance and only see the dancers and what are they doing. Sometimes we don't bother to know or try to know the story we don't use our "willing suspension of disbelief"(Example harry potter we know that there are no wizards and magic wands but we accept to believe for a moment what is happening in the movie) In ballet we should do the same for example those are not men are swans

[Heartlessiceboy]

Honestly I don't see a "gay love story" here In the classical version the swans are enchanted maidens swans by day women by night. Prince Sigfried falls in love with Odette the swan queen... But here the swans are swans and the prince never really falls in love with the alpha swan. Is more like an schizophrenic prince who have hallucinations.

[Kiyohne]

This is so beautiful....wow.

[stashews]

besides, it's a fact that Adam Cooper could knock any bloke out, not that he would. what a powerful form, like a martial artist

[elinnar]

I don't see 2 men dancing. For me the swan is an androgynous character in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake.

BTW, as far as I know Adam Cooper isn't gay.

[ruthemilyp]

@elinnar yeah he's not, i think he's married?

[Pywacket2]

The same sex bits are the best part.

[theeldergoth]

Beautiful. Such a fresh take on something that had become stale. And there was such passion.

[rockerclogger]

When he longed for love and comfort, I think it meant he lacked it from his mother. So I think the swan is supposed to be like a father to him.

[TheOwlBerlin]

This is Fantastic!!! Love it!!!

[BernardProfitendieu]

insipid

[anapaulaho]

universal? hello? earth to virtuouscircle. this ballet is a (fabulous) same-sex take on the classic love story, and there is no reason to "closet" that choreographic choice by saying it's universal...

[renardeargent]

rrrr Jhonattan Ollivier ppuaj! Adam Cooper is the best Swan Lake ! I LOVE ADAM ! :)

[echelina94]

i love the swan lake, this is my peferit ballet..

and i love adam cooper, he is perfect ...

[Flaflaronio]

I've watched this a couple of times with different dancers but I don't think anything comes close to this performance. It's the subtleties of their interpretation that make this unique (and Adam Cooper's Royal Ballet background of course)

[knightLynderic]

Amazing ballet. I cant picture the swans as fragile females any more. Swans are powerful, elegant and fierce wild animals. Men are much better for the swan-roles.

[minaspap]

this is no ballet

its just good dancing

[glynbrain]

Haven't watched the rest of this yet, but so far the quick tempo has ruined the quality and feeling of the music.

[mikerubb]

Hmm  I think that this version works better the original...

[myworldisDance]

Who plays the main swan in this clip? He's so beautiful.

[knightLynderic]

@myworldisDance He is Adam Cooper, the first who played the Swan/Stranger. I saw it with Jonathan Ollivier and he was a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

[Katatha75]

@knightLynderic I saw it in Athens twice. Richard Winsor was beautiful, but Jonathan Ollivier was breathtaking! Never thought I would like it so much!

[Youradickhed]

i saw this performance in milton keynes on the 5th feb 2010 it was amazin i loved it ! how hot is the swan ;)

[Yaseminn93]

i went to the one in stoke on friday night too :) it was very good

[pikeman1962]

watched it last night in Stoke, great show, the chief swan was fabulous, he amazing stage presence

[Nebullah9]

Да, яой и балет вместе это что-то новенькое 8)

[yoye11]

So beautiful went to see it in london las week

[nadix77]

Tchaikovsky is turning into the coffin. Holy sh...t!!!

[dtmurphy01]

So beautiful.

[lovemusic1222]

i saw this last night, it was amazing!!! the best ballet ive seen, the lead male swan (played by richard winsor) was absolutely stunning!

[xmol14x]

I'm seeing this tonight, i cant wait! I've seen the normal one loads, but i've never seen this one before, it's going to be really interesting! Reminds me of the ending in billy elliot <3

[lufumefe]

just like i read in this month's Pointe edition... the relationship between these two is deliciously ambiguous!!!

[q7e9]

I have to admit, after watch this a few times. I actually think its really good. I never knew  how graceful it is. I am sorry for insulting it the first time.

[villesheart1]

this is very different than the original swan lake pas de deux but it still does it justice. its very beautiful even if it is between 2 men.

[Lisztlovers]

Very beautiful'

[mathieujouan]

The best tribute one could pay to Tchaikovsky and his life. This could have been the kind of images going through his head while he was composing the music for I think this is exactly the way this ballet should be interpreted. Bravo!

[gib1jack]

I studied Matthew Bourne's 'Swan Lake' for Performance Studies A-level a couple of years back...I loved it so much and I still do now! I'm hoping to watch lots more of Bourne's works... he is amazing!!!

[Ken220280]

I never really started appreciating ballet until Matthew Bourne came along - suddenly my opens have been opened to a whole different theatrical medium

[Reza21]

lol 'my opens have been opened'

[Ken220280]

The implications to what I put really aren't something I want, are they? lol

[iut032]

Sadly I don't know how to respond to this. This is so not swan lake no matter how graceful it seems

[SickForest]

At least you are nice and don´t insult :). I feel different respect to this, but ey!, that´s just my opinion, not the true.

Sorry my english!

[q7e9]

I am sorry If I sounded like I am insulting this ballet. Its very gracefully and its a whole new twist on the original. I guess I just was shocked when I first saw this.

[iut032]

This is from me, I forgot I was on my brother's account.

[apollohappysex]

Ahh..** <3

[zivja]

oh my god, this bring backs so many memories when i was dancing this swan lake years ago hehe, so much fun, an amazing show indeed,

hugs anton

[serjia88]

this is really quite well constructed

[MCarey0608]

The terms for male ballet dancers are danseur (French) or ballerino (Italian).

[danceuntiliamgone]

It's so~beautiful!! I went to see this performance in Tokyo.

This is the one of most beautiful performance which I can not forget for whole my lifer!! I would like to know their schedule and want to go to see again!!

[gaviote]

3:30 ♥

[danielle4444444]

its soooo gay but i cant take my eyes off of it

[apollomwj]

its soooo gay THUS i cant take my eyes off of it :)

[thesilvershining]

Ditto! <3

[MeredithWhite]

That is so beautiful. I'm not even a fan of ballet but I was enthralled. <3

[eljuli1003]

charming!!

[inluvwithsylar]

Beautiful!

[iwantch]

Hey! Adam Cooper is married and has a kid:) He`s so damn good!

[Lecver]

shit!!!!

[xreow]

so stunning and graceful Adam Cooper is.

I think their swan costumes are beautiful! Simple yet elegant.

[Piluttafluffet]

o my god - yer half the male dancers in the dance word probaly are gay but so wat?

i know so many great straight dancers

at the end of the day sexuality shouldnt matter wen u watch a truly great dance piece - focuz on the art not who the dancer might be sleeping with.

sorry for the rant but some ppl's comments got abit angry lol

[Alfarobeira]

Hey, i was ballet dancer, and i think most of the male ballet dancers are gays.Not all of them but most. Ballet is full of women and so for streight boy is very hard to stay there streight:)

[menijna]

gay ?

[daveinyorks]

Depends on how you want to interpret it. Obviously, on one level this production of it is (though the fact that one of the 'men' complicates things). However, it's equally possible to think of the swan as a fantastic, unobtainable alter ego of the prince - he is dancing with himself as he would like to be: free, beautiful, graceful, natural, loved. The tragedy of the story then becomes that the only way he can attain such an existance except is through death's escape.

[3deluj]

I agree, especially when we is dancing the same movements, its like he wants to be the swan and he is trying but he can never be free. i love the spine work in this duet, its almost as if their entire back is the neck of the swan so graceful.

[SickForest]

I´ve never see it in that way! Mmm,thanks!!!

[CheeseWheel3]

I love the swan's dancing. It's so cat-like. The breeches they're wearing look a bit sill to me, though the costumes grow on you, I guess.

[Hewyy123]

Why drag sexuality into it?

[LaLoTanZt]

i love them so much!

[virtuouscircle]

I loved this ballet at first sight but I'm a bit fed up with the gay/not gay controversy. The ballet shows a man hovering between the pure, selfless love of the Swan and its dark, erotic counterpart, and the fact that the dancers are male just makes it sharper and less sacharine than many classic interpretations. The conflict is universal and I don't see this as a gay manifesto on Bourne's part.

[fozzybear702]

Spot on analysis...

[virtuouscircle]

Thanks!

[chevychase]

@virtuouscircle Are you kidding? Of course it's a gay version of "Swan Lake," as Tchaikovsky would have liked it to be performed if it had been possible when he was alive. If you can't see that or have a problem with that, then all I can say is "Wow...."

[nerdziz]

@chevychase

virtuouscircle does have a point though, with the 'pure, selfless love' part. i agree that there is homoeroticism, but i don't feel any obvious sexual overtones where the white swan is involved. of course there's love between two men, but it could simply involve the prince's longing for comfort and love, which he lacks from his mother.

[audie83]

Thanks so much for posting this!! Love it!.♥♥

[nicegaby1986]

I love this version of Swan Lake adam cooper is so hot..¡¡¡

[mosesmissy1]

Hey, I'm not saying it DOESNT have a homoerotic aspect. But I think its more evident later on in the ballet when the two men dance together at the palace ball. I have recently bought the dvd and I'm blown away by the beauty of the whole interpretation!!

[DWoodforth]

Where did you buy the DVD? I've been wondering about that lateley..

[disseldoo]

I'm a heterosexual female and find this homoerotic (purleeze, open your eyes and your minds all those in denial) all male version of Swan Lake amazingly beautiful, powerful and sexy!

[1LadyBlackCat]

I strongly agree with disseldoo. I also love how this ballet portray swans as what they REALLY are: strong, powerful and not ones to mess with.

[audie83]

I'm a hetero female too-and I agree completely.

This version is just stunning.

In my dreams I can see Nijinsky himself dancing the lead in this-Adam Cooper is of course incredibly hot and sexy! :)

[mosesmissy1]

You're absolutely right Colly11. This isnt about a love story between two men. Its about a man/prince who is stuck in a place he doesnt want to be, and a swan who is as wild and free as the man wishes he could be. After the swan rejecting the prince a number of times (afer all he's a wild animal and the prince IS a human), he finally allows him to be a friend - to be close to him. It really is a beautiful interpretation.

[Colly11]

I think it's strange how people seem to not like this because they think it's gay, yet they are perfectly fine with accepting the story of love between a man and a SWAN. Think before you speak please. My faveourite bit is from 5:26 :) I find this very talented and beautiful. Love Adam Cooper!

[snk22]

Why can't the lead wear tighter tights like Nureyev? - he had the right idea!

[1psoas9]

the dancer is Adam Cooper, former star of hte Royal ballet. yes, he played the grown-up Billy Elliot. Yes, it's modern dane, but the postiions many ofhtem are taken from the ballet, esp the "head on wing" and the arabesque with the arm wrapped around hte head. NB how DFAST this goes -- less than half the time of Makarova's white swan. And how good the music sounds at this tempo.

[tasmindonner]

swan lake by p.i. tshchiavsky (sorry, spelling), the pas de deux. cello and viola, i think.

dern. wish i could spell.

[canveykid90]

Does anyone Know What Piece of Music this is?

Thaaanks! x

[MusicalsDork]

This is a fabulous and beautiful portrayal fo the original. I thought it was very tastefully done and a nice change with the modern ballet rather than completely classical. I saw this production in Chicago while I was ushering at the Cadillac Theatre that it played in and I was in tears the entire time. Well done Matthew Bourne! Thank you for this gorgeous piece of art!

[gymini29]

i miss read the website. there is a new series of tours starting in 2009

[catchersmitt0]

Perhaps they'll film it in Imax 3D... like how U2 is in 3D.

[gymini29]

yes it is.

their is a new tour of it starting this year and it opens in Chicago feb. 21.

the first time i saw the complete ballet I was in tears

[bibz845]

the swan dancing with the man is the guy that plays the older billy elliot at the end of the film isn't it?

[abracazombie]

me encanta esta version,LOVE MATTHEW BOURNE

[dancingstorm]

I'd like it better if it were actually ballet instead of what appears to be a form of modern dance.

[hamishk3]

i hav to study this for a comparision piece to my set work in gcse dance, i thnk tht the male version is a little more contemorrary thn the female version. i most definitly hav to prefer this version!!!!!

[BariTenoreDram]

at the end of the film billy elliot we see that the rappresentation is this....

[lakela004]

This is not a gay ballet at all, I think the swans are masculine, mean and sexy. Although there is a love type story between two men, it is done tastefully. This is an amazing work, I'm completely fascinated by it. Completely innovative. Thanks balletfreak for the post.

[avzyB]

i love this piece so0o0o much.

the men are so strong.

i love how it has a contemporay and also a humorous touch.

LOVE MATTHEW BOURNE.

[Norn]

people keep call this play odd but I find the females in swan lake odd and a yawn....

Swans can only be admired from afar not close up

[yushuiwater]

kind of gay show

[ameemom]

I'm sorry but I can't take this seriously.. the dancing is beautiful, but its just too odd. I like the idea of men being swans, though. I've always though the female swans part was dull. But instead of a prince, I think a princess would have made more sense.. Men usually don't go making bonds with birds, they shoot them.. haha. kidding. I do think a female lead would balance out the ballet a little.

[thundergirl666]

it's just so perfect, i could watch it for hours. I NEED to find the dvd

[willtom27]

You can find this DVD on neflix....at least I did....just type in - "swan lake: tchaikovsky (matthew bourne)"....when you see this dance in the context of the whole show it is not so "odd", as some posters have commented.

[karo1066]

Beautiful! Personally, I don't find ballerinas all that pretty - they're way too anorexic-looking. I think a male swan makes a lot of sense.

[PsychoLabRat]

Finally, a real Swan Lake! I've always said it was odd having fenale dancers playing the "swans", I mean no disrespect to the ladies but swans are aggresive and therefore male dancers are better capable of displaying that edge. Brilliant loved it could watch ballet for hours.

[larny]

amazing!

[loreinluna]

w0o0o male swans!!! brav0o0o

[greengiant186]

This ballet is the best thing EVER that I have seen live and on DVD. And it is not gay. The swan represents love, hope and happyness for the prince. It is beautifully coreographed and danced.

[fafifurnik]

Yes, it's the best in history. No boring ballerinas on pointes.

[greengiant186]

exactly

[Arkana10]

This is brilliant. It`s not a gay...you cannot say about art gay or not. It`s a beutiful ballet... New way of re-directing clasic.

[vgbasil]

It is a weird adaption of Swan Lake and although it made me feel uncomfortanble at fisrt I liked it overall. But I think it would be far more interesting if instead of a prince they had chosen a princess. I respect ta male ballerinas, but they can't match the beauty of the female ones.

[nerdziz]

i dunno...in my opinion female ballerina's aren't very pretty when they're doing ballet

[bigeyearts]

dont u mean ballerinos? :P i think its a good thing to bring swan lake into the new milenium, i mean thats what the original ballet dancers were doing by bringing something fresh and new..

[MCarey0608]

A male ballet dancer is termed danseur (French) or ballerino (Italian).

[BarefootBaby]

Ah, but you should remember that it is about a prince and a swan.. as opposed to two men. You can interpret the story in many ways but I always look at it as the swan being part of the prince's imagination. He is unable to obtain affection from his mother so he develops that bond with the swan instead... well something along those lines. My opinion changes all the time.

Either way I think this is just beautiful.

[sexxidancerfq]

Yes it is gay in the sense of the love story but jesus people, its one of the most beautiful ballets ever! who cares if its gay?! Look at how beautifully the story and the dancing are being protrayed. I am mesmerized everytime I watch Adam Cooper. He is sooo amazing, he even dances like a bird.

[nevermind111]

It is so gay!

I felt embarrassed even watching it on my own.

In theory, I wouldn't mind watching some cute gay male dance,

but not the magnificent Swan Lake with swans in

feather pants.

[lakela004]

probably having trouble dealing with your own feelings.

[BarefootBaby]

I still think this is one of the most beautiful ballet scenes i've ever seen. Adam Cooper is so convincing as a swan.. really graceful.

[Torichan888]

pretty men with no shirts...switching to ogle mode

[chowchow0726]

This is so beautiful. Thanks so much for posting it.

[lunam96]

why do people think this is gay? This IS real art!

[Lacunaband]

Maybe because it IS gay? It's a love scène between tow men ... What else would you call it? And it also IS real art. Strange enoufg, you seem to assume that both cannot co-incide?

[lunam96]

I'm talking about the dancers, not about the story.

[Lacunaband]

Me too ;). And my, my (this has nothing to do with your mail) but what a lively forum this is. Where people ar called (quote-unquote) 'Racist bastards', 'illiterate' (by someone who himself catalogues people by their - British - origine. Just because they happen to prefer another performance than this genius (yes, I'm talking about you, Ultime8me). I think anyone with such disregard for the freedom of speech has no buiness posting comments about art.

[internetfaith]

Swan Lake with Adam Cooper was...hmmm...to put it most simply, *hot*. And very beautiful.

[ogki]

The new swan lake of Matthew Bourne with Alan Vincent (the swan) is better than this..

[BarefootBaby]

I'm confused. What is that in response to?

[BarefootBaby]

Adam Cooper is married too isn't he. Does anyone know if there is a soundtrack for this or anything? I really doubt there is, but the music is so beautiful, I'd love to have it all on CD.

..I think this is one of my favourite scenes too.

[Pateencroute]

well, I think that Scott Ambler (the Prince) can't be gay, since he is married...

This dance is very aesthetic, but I also like the last one, when the Prince and the Swan are murdered... While watching it, we really think that the dancers ARE swans! Made me cry... T_T

[thesilvershining]

This is my FAVORITE song. Probably the most moving and beautiful dance of any ballet ever. Thanks for posting this.

[BarefootBaby]

I got the DVD of this last week and it is so incredible to watch. I wish I'd seen it live. Adam Cooper is so good as the swan.. it's really beautiful.

[thesilvershining]

I'd kill to see it live with Adam Cooper as the Swan... he's just perfect. Makes me sooooo glad they at least had the sense to put it on DVD to make sure we can all enjoy it forever, eh? ;)

[samuraijun]

Woah! The choreography is simply awesome! I wish I could do a grande jete like that.

[saab900se]

Sakorafa I'm guessing that with your lack of irony you're from the U.S.

[ultim8me]

holy shit you racist bastard!! well.. suprise suprise! you come from the united kingdom... How come it seems everyone I know that comes from there are such.. snobs? I mean Americans are fat, lazy and stupid and Aussies are drug fucked convicts isn't it?

and i'm guessing you don't a have dictionary or any books.. right? lack of irony would mean lack of contradiction. so because of YOU should I say that EVERYONE from UK are stupid

[sakorafa]

This part is one of the most moving ones in the whole thing and all you can think of is if they're gay or not? who cares? Either way, they're brilliant! <3

[BillyBouzou]

i dont care if they are gay or not.its thier right anyway...the important thing is that they are dancing greate!!its absolutely baeutiful!!!

(dariabouzou)

[xBarbedWireHeartx]

Aw. Beautiful. Not more I can say really.

It's fasinating.

[saab900se]

Hmmm, homosexuals dancing to the music of a homosexual. Can't lose can they.

[Thildmaxv]

narrow-minded

[goum1982]

What's your pont?.. Really!Something beutiful is just...beutiful nothing more, nnothing less.

[warriorgirl271]

I am moved.

[MyHeartWillBurst]

They are hot, but probably gay.

[thesilvershining]

I'll bet not a single one of the men in this show are gay. Ballet is not "gay" anyway... males who can dance are true atheletes and are so powerful--and have so much more control over their bodies than clumsy football or basketball players. What's "gay" about that? Nothing at all.

[moogle301]

you don't think any of them are?

how many ppl are in the show? for anything that's statistically unlikely..

also apparently dance does have a higher ratio of gay guys in than most things

however i wouldn't assume they were gay either like the person you were replying to because straight guys often dance too, and it annoyed me that they said "but" as if it was a negative thing

I don't get your point about dancers being less clumsy and thus not being gay, are you saying gay people ARE clumsy?..

[thesilvershining]

You misunderstood completely. I was saying that a lot of straight guys think ballet is "gay" and for "gays" only. But in reality you have to be extremely disciplined to be a good dancer, not just muscular. Dancing takes much more skill than the regular TV sports like football, basketball, tennis, hockey. I was bashing the homophobes who say ballet can't be masculine. That's *all* I was saying :(

[moogle301]

i get that you weren't bashing ballet, just seemed silly to say you bet none of them were gay when statistically there will be more gay guys in the dancing profession than most other jobs. didn't necessarily. assume you were homophobic but with your argument all a homophobic persons gota do is quote stats and feel they've proved something

I know you need strength + discipline for ballet and get your point, youre right many ppl don't realise + think its sissy i was just critical of the first bit

[kawaiichico]

absolutely beautiful .... **cannot think of anything else to say and is gobsmacked**

*o*

[ChocolatePieSuus]

Omg.. wow.. i'm trying to catch my breath here.. I think my heartrate went up for like 2 minutes.. WOW..

I love this version of the swan like.. But this bit is .. WOW..

Thnx so much for posting!!

x Suus

[kniphofia]

I was part of the audience in London when this was filmed for DVD and I can tell you it was absolutely brilliant!

[bloodysherry]

He's perfect.

[touchztone]

not just hot, he can fucking dance!

it makes me cry.... the dance not that he is so good.

[Pateencroute]

Both are hot T_T

[thesilvershining]

Totally. And have good chemistry. I wonder what went through their heads when they were rehearsing this duet the first time. Someone post an interview or something, quick! ;)

[jellilorum]

Man, Adam Cooper is HOT.