According to an old ballet commonplace, no one can beat the Russians when it comes to Swan Lake. Biased and historically inaccurate as this may be, the generalisation has a grain of truth. Russian ballerinas have always looked at ease with the popular classic. It matters little that it was created for an Italian star and partly choreographed by a French ballet master; Swan Lake is as Russian as vodka and comes magically to life when left in the hands — and legs — of Russian interpreters.