It is no good, a Snow Queen abdicating. This situation is somewhat redeemed in the third act, which is the dramatic explosion of the story. Another Swan Queen, Odillia, in a black dress, arrives on the scene at the Prince's court, and under the evil influence of one Robehart proceeds to seduce the Prince. Her seduction of him provides the most exciting dances of Swan Lake. Romance is dead, this is straight on seduction.
High fashion adorns a brilliant series of divertissements that show off the whole company.
First comes a Spanish type flamenco dance for the dancer Sahr Helmy. She's the real seductress of this act, in her showy, Goyaesque emerald and black dress, with a reptilian train. This dance is so spectacular it rather blocks out the rest of the company, because nothing stops Helmy when she is in full charge, like an express train steaming over the stage. Then come Neapolitan, Hungarian and Polish dances. Everyone is dressed in high-fashion, perfectly finished costumes milling about at the blackbird's party.