Swan Lake

Written by	Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Date	1877 (first performance)

The Ballerina Pig, with Rudolf Nureyev

Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake", his Opus 20, tells the story of a prince, who falls in love with a princess, Odette. She has been placed under an enchantement by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart, and is a swan by day and a human at night. To lift the spell a human prince must pledge his love for her; to break the sorcerer's power completely someone must die for her. The prince attends a ball, where the sorcerer disguises his daughter, Odile, to look like Odette. The confused prince declares his intention to marry Odile, and then is made to realize that she is not Odette. The ending of the ballet varies from production to production; several recent versions end with Odette condemned to live as a swan and the Prince grieving. The dual roles of Odette and Odile are danced by the same ballerina.

The ballet was spoofed as "Swine Lake" on episode 213 of The Muppet Show. Rudolf Nureyev danced the prince, and, in response to a request he made to dance with Miss Piggy on the show, he is partnered with the Ballerina Pig dancing as Odette and Odile. The pig naturally turns the number into something of a slapstick routine.

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