Stage photograph of Serge Lifar and Olga Spessivtseva in Swan Lake, performed by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1929. For the 4 performances in July 1929 at Covent Garden the ballet was simply called The Swan Lake. Marius Petipa was credited with the choreography and Korovine (Korovin) the designs. The cast was led by Olga Spessiva (called in the programme Spessiva-Spessivtzeva) as Odette, in the 1929 programmes simply called The Swan Queen, and Serge Lifar the Prince. In reviewing the ballet Philip Richardson in the Dancing Times (August 1929) acclaimed Spessiva as ‘the greatest danseuse classique who has danced in post-war England’. Noting she had an ideal dancer’s body he continued ‘One never has the feeling that she is showing off, but rather her brisés, her pirouettes and her glorious arabesques are just her natural way of expressing thought. With Serge Lifar as her supporter she was incomparable as the Swan Princess, The critic of the Daily Mail was equally impressed ‘She is indeed an exquisitely lovely dancer’ and with Lifar made ‘the ballet a thing of rare beauty’.