Ballet Preljocaj’s Swan Lake review – dystopian twist sucks the breath out of you

Set during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Preljocaj’s reimagined Swan Lake transforms the classic ballet into a dystopian corporate court where a property developer uses a paper-based plan to turn a kingdom into swans. The production features dynamic and aggressive choreography, evoking strength and bold movements rather than the original elegance. Tchaikovsky’s music is blended with dark electronic tones, creating an eerie atmosphere as the cast captures tension between Siegfried’s emotional struggles and Rothbart’s ambitions, culminating in a powerful dystopian finale that fans will appreciate for its fresh take on the timeless story.