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SALT LAKE CITY -- As Ballet West dancers prepare for this weekend's opening of "Swan Lake," there are other rehearsals taking place for a key moment during the curtain call.
Christiana Bennett and Christopher Ruud are preparing for opening night of "Swan Lake." As a married couple, they believe they can bring a very real love and romance to the production.
"Partnering together, you have a lot of trust, and it's good that we have that as a basis in the first place," Ruud says. "I think it's pretty cool that I get to be Prince Charming to my wife on stage."
Coaching the Ballet West dancers is the woman who made the swan her signature role. Cynthia Gregory was one of America's great prima ballerinas.
"Wonderful Ballet West dancers; and I just enjoy so much helping them find their own way of doing it," Gregory says.
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"Working with Cynthia has just been an absolutely surreal experience. We are so lucky here that she came out, and she has offered us a completely new dimension to this ballet," Bennett says.
Artistic director Adam Sklute believes the beauty of this production will inspire audience members to toss flowers to the dancers, but that can be tricky.
"I've actually experienced that as a dancer myself. Flowers that were meant for my ballerina actually hit me in the face," Sklute recalls.
Volunteers will receive training to help the audience -- it's a lot farther than you think. You actually toss at a 45 degree angle to the dancers' feet.
Ballet West's production of "Swan Lake" opens Friday, Feb. 12, and runs through Feb. 20 at the Capitol Theatre. CLICK HERE for information about ticket prices and availability.
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