The Cullberg Ballet will present a modern version of “Swan Lake” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Lied Center.

The production will feature Tchaikovsky’s classic musical score, but Mats Ek’s “Swan Lake” is modern, but in a radically different way. Ek has retained the music and framework of the sJ-W Staff Reports

The Cullberg Ballet will present a modern version of “Swan Lake” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Lied Center.

The production will feature Tchaikovsky’s classic musical score, but Mats Ek’s “Swan Lake” is modern, but in a radically different way. Ek has retained the music and framework of the story a prince comes of age and seeks his ideal woman but has cut it down to the essentials, including creating a two-dimensional stage design.

The performers who play white swans in the lake are barefoot and baldheaded, and the males and female dancers are clad in traditional tutus. The queen is no helpless victim; her passions and reactions are open and immediate. The four cygnets of tradition have become three quacking ducks, and the national dances are justified by the prince going on a journey that includes a visit to Israel. Ek’s choreography does not have a single step in common with the original ballet.

Cullberg Ballet has performed in more than 30 countries and is a cultural ambassador for Sweden. Nine nationalities are represented in the company, and out of 20 dancers, eight are Swedish. Since its beginning in 1967, the dancers’ technical proficiency and strong stage personalities have been the group’s main characteristics.

The Cullberg Ballet will teach a class to seven KU dancers from 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Oldfather Dance Studio at the Lied Center. Stone and Margareta Lidstrom and Lena Wennergren-Juras, artistic directors for Cullberg Ballet, will give a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Oldfather Dance Studio at the Lied Center.

“Swan Lake” runs about two hours. Tickets range from $16 to $38. Tickets are available at the Lied Center Box Office, 864-ARTS; Murphy Hall Box Office, 864-3982; Stud]\ent Union Activities Box Office, 864-SHOW; TicketMaster outlets, (785) 234-4545 and (816) 931-3330; and online at TICKETS.COM or TicketMaster.com.tory a prince comes of age and seeks his ideal woman but has cut it down to the essentials, including creating a two-dimensional stage design.

The performers who play white swans in the lake are barefoot and baldheaded, and the males and female dancers are clad in traditional tutus. The queen is no helpless victim; her passions and reactions are open and immediate. The four cygnets of tradition have become three quacking ducks, and the national dances are justified by the prince going on a journey that includes a visit to Israel. Ek’s choreography does not have a single step in common with the original ballet.

Cullberg Ballet has performed in more than 30 countries and is a cultural ambassador for Sweden. Nine nationalities are represented in the company, and out of 20 dancers, eight are Swedish. Since its beginning in 1967, the dancers’ technical proficiency and strong stage personalities have been the group’s main characteristics.

The Cullberg Ballet will teach a class to seven KU dancers from 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Oldfather Dance Studio at the Lied Center. Stone and Margareta Lidstrom and Lena Wennergren-Juras, artistic directors for Cullberg Ballet, will give a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Oldfather Dance Studio at the Lied Center.

“Swan Lake” runs about two hours. Tickets range from $16 to $38. Tickets are available at the Lied Center Box Office, 864-ARTS; Murphy Hall Box Office, 864-3982; Stud]\ent Union Activities Box Office, 864-SHOW; TicketMaster outlets, (785) 234-4545 and (816) 931-3330; and online at TICKETS.COM or TicketMaster.com.