Swan Lake

Prince needs wife. Prince meets swan. Swan turns out to be a princess, but is trapped in her avian form by a sinister spell. Love, hardship and a million pirouettes ensue as the Houston Ballet wraps up its 2008-2009 season with the mother of all ballet classics, Swan Lake. Artistic Director Stanton Welch’s version, which the HB premiered in 2006, adds a couple of modern plot twists while maintaining the basics of the classic tale; for example, Prince Siegfried meets Odette as a woman, before she’s transformed into a swan. Welch also incorporates a few musical segments by Tchaikovsky that aren’t commonly used. Other than that, though, traditionalists will be pleased to find lush sets, classical movement and white tutus as far as the eye can see. 7:30 p.m. June 11, 13, 19 and 20, 2 p.m. June 14 and 21, 1:30 p.m. June 13 and 20. Through June 21. Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas. For information, call 713-227-2787 or visit www.houstonballet.org. $17 to $125.
Thu., June 11, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., June 13, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.; Sun., June 14, 2 p.m.; Fri., June 19, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., June 20, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., June 21, 2 p.m., 2009