Young and carefree are the two words most danseurs use to describe Prince Siegfried of Swan Lake. He has everything a man could possibly dream of: a royal birthright, wealth, and a mother who showers him with much love and affection. While his character initially appears not to have a single worry, his world changes drastically when he falls in love with a swan.

It is this flair for the dramatic that makes Prince Siegfried a much sought-after role among male ballet dancers. Swan Lake, believed to be inspired by a German and a Russian folktale, has all the elements of a grand theatrical presentation necessary for a successful ballet production. And in the middle of this fantasy is the handsome prince fighting for the life of his enchanted partner.

The very first Prince Siegfried when Swan Lake premiered at the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre on March 4, 1877 was premier danseur Victor Gillert who partnered Polina Pelagaya Karpakova. While there was much drama on the stage, Gillert was involved in a more explosive one backstage. The role of Odette/Odile was initially meant for prima ballerina Anna Sobeschanskaya but was forced to back out after the governor-general of Moscow, Vladimir Dolgorukov, filed a complaint against her. Apparently, she had accepted family heirlooms such as jewelry presented to her by Dolgorukov as tokens of his love but she chose to marry Gillert then sold the jewelry instead of returning it to the official.

Gillert, along with Karpakova and Swan Lake’s choreographer Julius Reisinger, stayed with the Bolshoi for two years. In 1879, Joseph Peter Hansen succeeded Reisinger and restaged Swan Lake with Alfred Bekefi as Prince Siegfried. With the addition of new dances and tweaks to the choreography, the restaging enjoyed a better reception than the premiere. 

The third restaging saw the legendary Marius Petipa collaborating with Lev Ivanov and composer Ricardo Drigo. Pavel Gerdt took on the male lead opposite Pierina Legnani. This was followed by a version by Alexander Gorsky who worked with Anna Pavlova and Nikolai Legat in the lead roles.

Other notable Prince Siegfrieds include Mikhail Mordkin, Vaslav Nijinsky, Alexander Jones and Timofei Andrijashenko, among many others.

For the men of Ballet Manila, the opportunity to dance as Prince Siegfried is considered a career highlight given the strength, sensitivity and experience needed to perform it well. Among the dancers who have tackled the role are co-artistic director Osias “Shaz” Barroso, principal dancers Romeo Peralta Jr., Elpidio Magat Jr. and Mark Sumaylo, former principal dancers Rudy De Dios and Nazer Salgado, former soloists Francis Cascaño, Eduardo Espejo, Jonathan Janolo and Alfren Salgado.

“Swan Lake is a classic especially for the men. You can see that in the four acts, the prince is always there. There’s a lot of depth in the character. You have to show he matured. His range is wide but you need to be subtle because he is a prince. And you have to be a good partner,” Shaz Barroso said of the role.

“Siegfried is of the highest nobility, a true prince. He is very romantic, passionate and sensitive – being that he was the only man who captured Odette’s heart. I relate to this character because he is young and carefree about love. The most challenging part about being the prince is when I dance with Odette and Odile. I have to be strong to support two different characters – white and black swan. They have different drives and tempos,” said Elpidio Magat Jr., agreeing with Shaz’s observation on the importance of partnering.

Admittedly, the attention is usually on the ballerina performing the dual roles of Odette and Odile. But Romeo Peralta Jr. underscored the importance of Prince Siegfried in the story.

“Prince Siegfried is technically and artistically challenging. He is sometimes overshadowed by the interpretation of Odette and Odile. The involvement of the prince with the other characters is very much needed to tell the story with drama and passion. The character is very relatable. He is very human,” stressed Romeo.

Mark Sumaylo – having danced the role numerous times with his real-life partner, principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro – underscored the importance of the chemistry between Prince Siegfried and Odette which he believed was what shaped his character.

“Because my real-life partner is playing my Swan Queen, the devotion that I feel is genuine. It flows naturally. It is easier for me to relate to the situation. Even when she plays Odile, she knows and plays with my weaknesses. In general, the emotions that run through the ballet are almost real,” he said.

Indeed, the development of the character of Siegfried is one of the most dramatic among the popular classical ballets. From a young and carefree spoiled prince to a man of integrity and faithfulness, Siegfried is the prince who conquered enchantment with true love.