November 17, 1995
Web posted at: 6:45 a.m. EST
From London Correspondent Hilary Bowker
LONDON (CNN) -- It might be "Swan Lake," but you can forget the frail, feminine swans in white tutus. The classical Tchaikovsky ballet has undergone a sex change.
Unlike the 1890s, these swans of the 90s are bare-chested men in feather covered trousers. It might seem odd, and perhaps a little weird. But the Royal ballet star who dances the swan role says it's great that gender equality has finally come to the ballet world.
"It's really exciting to have the opportunity to play such a role which is usually associated with women," says Adam Cooper. "It's very taxing; it's a hard role and it's about time a man got the chance to do it."
The gender factor is not the only thing that's been changed in this version of "Swan Lake." Unlike the traditional version, this story line has no princess; it is all about the prince. The swan figure represents all the freedom and the spontaneity that the prince can't hold because of his royal life.
Perhaps this interpretation is fitting. It's appearing on a London stage. And in Great Britain, the tribulations of royalty are a contemporary theme. Artistic Director Matthew Bourne says it's just an idea and concept whose time has come. After all, there is no reason swans can't be male.
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