The broken-hearted Odette finds peace at last as she descends into the depths of the still, cool water. This is the single image choreographer Graeme Murphy wanted to capture for the 2002 photo shoot of his brand-new production of Swan Lake – and the only way it could be achieved was, literally, underwater. Graeme Murphy, David McAllister, former Principal Artist Simone Goldsmith, then Director of Marketing Yvonne Gates and a team of people including, the photographer, make-up artist and lifeguards met at Coogee Beach, south-east of Sydney.
Simone plunged into the water, wearing a specially designed dress by Kristian Fredrikson. She would be treading water for hours. “I can remember how gorgeous David and Graeme were to never let her be alone in the water,” Yvonne remembers. Graeme choreographed underwater movements for Simone – the first of his Odettes – and she sustained flawless technique while absorbed in her on-stage character.
When the images were developed, one of the most painstaking editing challenges for the photographer and designer was to remove the countless fish seen darting around Simone. “I couldn’t believe it – it looked like she was in a fish bowl,” Yvonne says. The 2002 underwater photo shoot of Swan Lake proves how careful planning, hard work and boundless imagination can coalesce to create one, perfect moment.
Swan Lake runs in Perth 21 – 25 October
Dreamy!