For this year's IU Spring Ballet the Department Chair Michael Vernon elected to split the staging of the classic "Swan Lake" with guest artist and former American Ballet Theatre principal Cynthia Gregory.
Cynthia and Michael Vernon are very much in sympathy about the goals for this production.
They're looking for a staging that does trim the ballet, but at the same time focuses the action and makes the story clearer for the audience.
The role of the twin swans: Odette the white swan and Odile the black swan is usually danced by a single soloist.
It was a signature piece for Cynthia Gregory. Given the quality of the IU students and the desire to offer them experience, three different dancers will participate in the roles.
The IU Ballet Theater's production of "Swan Lake" is part of their "Variations on a Russian Theme" Friday and Saturday March 27th and 28th.
It also includes the world premiere of Michael Vernon's former student Matthew Neenan's "My Eyes Opened.