By Kathryn Sheets

For 32 years BalletMet Columbus has been bringing a variety of classical ballet productions to Central Ohio, and this season is no different. This year, BalletMet, partnering with the Cincinnati Ballet, is kicking off its season with a limited engagement of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.

Unaware of the story line? Swan Lake is the tale of young love. The story begins with Prince Siegfried, who upon his coming of age receives a crossbow as a birthday gift and the command from his mother to soon choose a bride. One day while hunting swans with his friends, one of them transforms into a beautiful woman named Odette and instantly the prince falls in love with her. Odette is cursed by an evil sorcerer to live by day as a swan woman, and will remain trapped this way until love can break the spell.

The first production of Swan Lake was in 1877 and it since has become one of the most beloved productions of all time. This limited engagement will take place October 16-18 at the Ohio Theatre. This event will feature more than 50 professional ballet dancers from both BalletMet and the Cincinnati Ballet as well as children from the BalletMet Dance Academy.

On Friday October 16 members of the audience are invited to participate in a Post Performance Q&A with BalletMet Artistic Director Gerard Charles, guest artists and company dancers as they discuss this historically significant work.

For more information visit www.balletmet.org