1.   He updated the action and even modified the choreography in the first lakeside scene, something that even experimental Western choreographers leave untouched.

2.   The first lakeside scene is by a pond in a park where the Prince intends to commit suicide but is saved by his vision of swan heaven.

3.   The Prince gets a solo in the first lakeside scene, danced to the music of the big swans.

4.   There is a wonderful moment when Martins has the swan maidens attack the hunters in the first lakeside scene.

5.   Window screens can be lowered to reveal realistic paintings of pastoral lakeside scenes.