The performance started beautifully with the prologue which I loved, but when the Act II finished I was a little disappointed because I didn't see any love, even emotion...and because of this, the performance didn't have energy and power.
This comes from miscasting ? With Monica Perego, Teddy looked as if he were her younger brother.. Technically NO problem at all but both danced as if they're dancing with stranger until Act IV. No chemistry between them appealing to the audience. I don't know very well about partnering but when Teddy was with Viviana Durante in Rhapsody, he was better and more relaxed with her, yet Durante also gave us powerful and strong impression as Perego. Maybe because Deane's version made the prince very lonely, which made Teddy completely lost or isolated in the company.
The only joy was in Act III as expected by most part of the audience, Grand pas de deux with their stunning technique.

I'd like to mention about the Neapolitan Dance, I enjoyed a lot, with Yat Sen Chang and Simone Clarke, bright, cheerful, and relaxed, even comical (didn't match the heavy, dark, and cold atmosphere of the other dancers and stage in Act III ?).

I think the arena production (I have to say I don't know very well !) was successful with this HUGE Tokyo Kokusai Forum hall having 5000 audience (!!!) capacity. Especially in Act II, we could see the entire corps de swans even at the back of Rothbalt's waving big wings.

A lot (!) of smoke was used and the flying boat (decorated with leaves ?) which Odette and the Prince were on for happy-ending after their suicide. Personally I'm a little "allergic" with artificial stage effects. However the smoke was very effective since Rothbalt and his magic are the core of the story in this version.

In the end of the program I saw an announcement about K-ballet's next performance, Giselle, in Nov/Dec this year. I hope their success, challenging this very classical piece !!!

junko

ENB did not do their Arena version in Japan, but did the squre version which they performed in London Coliseum this winter.

I went to the matinee in Tokyo yesterday, Erina Takahashi/ Dmitri Gruzdyev taking the leads.
The whole company were in good shape and I loved the very beautiful Peter Farmer's costumes/setting, and wonderful dances including Ashton's pas de quatre and vivid Naepolitan dance.

Yat Sen Chang danced Pas de quatre in the matinee and he was tremedously wonderful!
Also I loved Fernanda Oliviera as one of the Six princesses, Vladislav Bubnov in Spanish dance, and Maria Ribo Pares as one of the big swans.

It was Erina Takahashi's Japanese debut performance and she was beautiful swan pricess and wonderfully in technique in the Black Swan grand pas de deux .

I hope whole ENB company will enjoy the Jpaan tour.

I regret really not to see Erina Takahashi. But only one matinee for her in Tokyo !

Since I've seen AMP's Swan Lake (on video) too much recently, I must have sought too much emotional appealings in ENB's Swan Lake...Without this recent incident, maybe I could have had a different (positive) opinion ???