The first tutu was made in 1839 for Marie Taglioni and was designed by Eugene Lam.
Tutu's are hand sewn and it takes about a week to make without decoration.
The Dying swan costume was designed in the 40's and 50's for the Swan Lake Ballet for ballerina Anna Pavlova.
I decided to make a sculpture that captivated the dying swan scene in Swan Lake.
Combining modern day elements and steam punk imagination.
And an oil and cold wax painting showing Odette in mid transformation from her enchantment as night falls.
Here is the story of Swan Lake.
Act 1
Story unfolds Prince Siegfried is celebrating his 21st Birthday.
The celebration dance is interrupted by the arrival of Siegfried's Mother who reminds him
that his coming of age means he must marry.
prospective fiancees are to be presented for his approval at a grand ball the next evening.
Siegfried is not happy and does not want to marry yet.
act himself he sets off to hunt.
Act 2
Lake-side
Siegfried and companions encounter a flight of swans. Siegfried commands the he shall be allowed to shoot the first one.
The companions leave and Siegfried is amazed to see the lead swan transform in to a beautiful woman as she lands by the lake.
She tells him that she is Odette, Queen of a group of maidens who have been enchanted by the magician Von Rothbart.
By day the must live as swans, only by night fall can they resume their human form.
Siegfried falls deeply in love with this graceful creature, and is told that the enchantment can only be broken if he swears to love Odette and no other.
Von Rothbart appears, aware that his spell may be broken and menaces Siegfried. As dawn breaks the maidens resume the form of swans.
Act 3
The following night, the court is assembled in a Palace-Ball-Room for the reception of prospective fiancees.
Siegfried's mind is distracted.
Suddenly the announcement heralds, it is Von Rothbart in disguise as a Nobleman, bringing with him his daughter Odile, who has taken on the appearance of Odette.
Siegfried is enraptured and dances with her, and Odile is prompted by Von Rothbart and bewitches the Prince, he then asks for her hand in marriage and swears it to be true.
Devilish glee by Von Rothbart and Odile who both reveal themselves on their true colours and the figure of the real Odette is seen grieving at the Palace window.
Odette has been betrayed and she can never be released from her enchantment.
Act 4
Swans gather at the Lake-side awaiting Odette who appears lamenting Siegfried's unwitting treachery.
Siegfried comes to beg for Odette's forgiveness, she tells him that her only solution is to destroy themselves in the lake.
Fleeing from Von Rothbart, Odette and Siegfried both plunge in to the waters of the lake.
Their sacrifice ends the enchanter's power, and he falls dead.
The rest of the maidens are restored to human form, as Siegfried and Odette are united.
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| Odette in mid transformation oil and cold wax by Sue Foerster |
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| Dying Swan scene enchantment is broken by sacrifice | Tutu mixed media sculpture by Sue Foerster |
