(bright music) - Ballet West is presenting "Swan Lake" this February, and it's a must-see production full of elegance, chivalry and heart-wrenching music.

Evelyn Cisneros-Legate is here to tell us what theater goers can expect.

Hi, Evelyn, thanks so much for being here.

You know this ballet well, by the way.

- I do know it well, thank you for inviting me.

- Having performed the queen in "Princess" in San Francisco Ballet, that's very... - Absolutely, yes.

I had the opportunity to dance Odette/Odile for many years with San Francisco Ballet.

- [Mary] It's so great.

And so this production I know is very, very, I mean, it's really well-known what Adam did with this.

So tell us how it's different from other productions of "Swan Lake".

- Well, I think Adam had the wonderful idea and concept of actually showing and sharing with the audience how Odette became Odette.

That it wasn't just in other productions, the ballet starts out and you're in the peasant scene, and then all of a sudden, you know, the prince, the queen says, "You must marry."

And then the prince says, "No, I don't want to."

And she says, "Well, go hunting and maybe you'll feel better."

And so he goes hunting and meets the Swan Queen, but we don't usually get the backstory of how she was cursed.

We know, and we can read about it.

But Adam does a wonderful little intro where he shows her as a maiden with her friends and Von Rothbart and how he comes and curses her.

And then from then on, then she's cursed to be a swan and only true love can break the spell.

- Can make her a lovely maiden again.

(Mary laughs) - True.

- Yeah, and I know you've got some pretty remarkable costumes as well this time.

- They're so beautiful.

They are beautiful.

It kind of transforms you, you know.

As a dancer, you think about "Swan Lake", and you hear about "Swan Lake", and you watch other ballerinas that have done it.

And then when you put the costume on and the headpiece that has feathers that go over your ear, and then all of a sudden you're like, "Oh my gosh, I'm the Swan Queen."

So you know, it's an incredible opportunity for all the ladies, the ladies in the court of ballet, which is a big group, to dance together as swans for Odette/Odile.

It's a tremendous opportunity to explore all areas of your womanhood, of the soft and gentle side and of the conniving fiery side as well.

- Well, we're looking forward to seeing it.

And thank you so much for being here.

- [Evelyn] Thank you.

- And if you'd like to know more about Ballet West upcoming production, "Swan Lake", February 9th through 17th, go to balletwest.org.

Balletwest.org.

I'm Mary Dickson, thanks for watching "Contact".

(bright music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.