An image of past “Swan Lake” performances.
Reminder Publishing photo by Will Bucquoy
NORTHAMPTON — Back by popular demand, the World Ballet Company has announced the return of its production of “Swan Lake” at the Academy of Music Theatre on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.
World Ballet Company is an independent, Los Angeles-based national touring ballet company led by founders Sasha Gorskaya and Gulya Hartwick. Built from the ground up without institutional backing, the company produces and presents its own national tours, bringing full-scale ballet productions that blend classical artistry and Broadway-style theatrical flair to audiences across the country.
Described as a timeless tale of love, betrayal and transformation, “Swan Lake” follows Prince Siegfried as he encounters Odette, a princess doomed to live as a swan by day under the spell of a sorcerer. Though Prince Siegfried pledges his love and vows to break the curse, he is deceived by the sorcerer’s daughter, Odile — the Black Swan — leading to heartbreak and tragedy.
Now in its fourth full season, the World Ballet Company has rapidly become the nation’s leading touring ballet company. The organization said it is committed to making ballet accessible and engaging for audiences in communities large and small across more than 40 U.S. states. The company presents reimagined classics in more than 180 different cities each year.
“We believe ballet is for everyone, and the response from audiences nationwide has been incredible,” said Hartwick, who is also producer of the show.
The production features choreography by Nadezhda Kalinina — based on the original staging by Marius Petipa — as well as over 150 hand-sewn costumes, hand-painted sets created using centuries-old theatrical techniques and projection and multimedia visuals.
“Our ‘Swan Lake’ combines the elegance of classic ballet with vivid, immersive storytelling. It’s a magical experience for both ballet newcomers and longtime fans,” added Gorskaya. “‘Swan Lake’ has everything: love, deception, impossible choices, mistaken identity, an evil sorcerer, a royal party and a man who fails to recognize his girlfriend because she changed the color of her dress. It is more than a century old, but emotionally, it remains extremely current.”
The two co-founders told Reminder Publishing that making world-class ballet accessible has always been World Ballet Company’s mission. They not only aim to bring full-scale classical productions to the largest cultural capitals, but also to audiences in cities across the country.
“We also wanted ballet to feel welcoming,” said Gorskaya. “There is sometimes an idea that you need to know the terminology, understand every mime gesture, and read a 12-page synopsis before the curtain rises. You don’t. You simply have to sit down and allow yourself to feel something magical.”
Now in its fourth full-time season, Gorskaya said World Ballet Company creates productions for people who already love ballet, as well as those who are uninitiated.
“That second person is very important to us. We want them to leave surprised by how dramatic, entertaining, funny and human ballet can be,” she said.
Hartwick added, “We hear from people all the time who say, ‘This was my first ballet.’ That may be the most meaningful compliment we receive because a first experience has enormous power. If someone falls in love with ballet during one of our performances, they may return to the theater for the rest of their life.”
An image of past “Swan Lake” performances.
Reminder Publishing photo by Will Bucquoy
Since its beginning, World Ballet Company has performed in more than 300 cities and reached over 600,000 audience members.
“The heart of the company has remained the same,” added Gorskaya. “We still care about every city, every performance and every audience member. Whether we are performing in a major metropolitan center or a smaller community, the production must feel equally important. Nobody should receive the ‘travel-size’ version of ballet.”
Hartwick added, “There isn’t one anyway. The tutus refuse to fold that small.”
This ethos applies to their tour stop in Northampton, as the company’s relationship with the city first began in 2023 when they brought “Cinderella to the Academy.” “Swan Lake” was first performed there in 2024, and last year, they staged “The Great Gatsby” before returning to perform “Cinderella” this past spring.
“At this point, Northampton is less of a tour stop and more of a committed relationship,” said Hartwick. “What stands out is the community’s openness. Northampton audiences embrace the great classic ballets, but they were equally enthusiastic about ‘The Great Gatsby,’ which is an original contemporary production with a completely different theatrical language. That curiosity makes the city especially rewarding for us.”
Gorskaya said that the Academy of Music Theatre is also a “wonderful” home for ballet because of its history, character and intimacy. She said that allows audiences to be remarkably close to dancers.
“People sometimes tell us, ‘I would love to come, but I don’t know anything about ballet.’ Our answer is always: ‘perfect.’ Come exactly as you are. You do not need to study ‘Swan Lake’ before seeing it any more than you need to study love before falling in love,” Gorskaya said.
Hartwick added, “The most exciting part of our work is watching a theater fill with several generations at once — children dressed for their first ballet, longtime ballet lovers, couples on a date and people who simply decided to try something new. For a few hours, they all enter the same world together. That is what ‘Ballet Everywhere, Ballet for All’ means to us. It is not simply a slogan. It is the reason we built World Ballet Company, and the reason we keep returning to communities like Northampton.”
Tickets are now on sale at worldballetcomapny.com/northampton1 or at aomtheatre.com, ranging from $54.58 to $99.96. The show has a two-hour and 30-minute run time, including a 20-minute intermission. The show is recommended for ages 5 and up.
The upcoming 2026-2027 World Ballet Company season will also include performances of “The Nutcracker” from Nov. 13 to Dec. 28, “Swan Lake” and “The Sleeping Beauty” from Feb. 4 to May 15, 2027. For more information about World Ballet Company, visit worldballetcompany.com.
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