To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Black Swan — also known internationally as El cisne negro — will return to theatres across the globe for special IMAX screenings on August 21 and 24. The psychological horror film, directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman in an Oscar-winning performance, is widely remembered for its intense character study and unsettling descent into madness. But what brought this story to life visually and physically was not just performance and direction, but place — the real-world locations that grounded the dreamlike, sometimes nightmarish, imagery of the film.
This article takes you behind the scenes to explore when and where Black Swan was filmed.
WHERE WAS BLACK SWAN FILMED?
Filming for Black Swan began in late 2009 and took place primarily in New York City and surrounding areas. Principal photography used Super 16 mm film, giving the movie its grainy, gritty visual texture — a choice Aronofsky also used in The Wrestler. Making that choice wasn’t just an artistic one; it also saved money. The budget for the movie was only $10–12 million — which is pretty low by Hollywood standards.
That being said, let’s talk about the specific places where the movie was shot and how they added to the mood and realism of this psychological thriller based on ballet.
1. Performing Arts Center, State University of New York at Purchase (SUNY Purchase)
Location: Purchase, New York
One of the film’s key locations was the Performing Arts Center at SUNY Purchase. This venue served as the primary setting for many of the backstage and rehearsal scenes. It was used to represent the fictional ballet company in the movie and provided real, practical theatre space — from dressing rooms to the stage itself.
The Concert Hall at the center was used to stage major performance sequences, including the climactic scenes during the Swan Lake production. The realness of this space helped the filmmakers show how stressful it is to be a professional ballet dancer, from getting nervous before a show to the curtain call.
This is where many scenes were filmed, including Nina’s practice sessions and her emotional scenes with the ballet director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel). It was a quiet, focused place where the cast and crew could work hard without being interrupted by the noise of New York City
2. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City
Some outside shots were taken near Lincoln Centre, which is where the New York City Ballet actually lives. The famous architecture of Lincoln Centre helped make the setting even more of the centre of professional ballet in New York, even though shots of the ballet company’s rooms were staged elsewhere. Because it had something to do with dance, it was a good setting for a movie that was mostly about dance.
Though many indoor scenes were staged at SUNY Purchase or on constructed sets, the use of Lincoln Center’s exteriors gave audiences a visual cue linking the film’s fictional company to the world-renowned institution.
3. Bar and Club Scenes – Brooklyn Museum
Location: 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York City
Several scenes were filmed inside and outside the Brooklyn Museum, one of New York City’s largest and most historic cultural venues. In the scenes where Nina explores a more reckless, darker side of herself with Lily (Mila Kunis), the characters head out for a night of drinking and dancing. These club scenes were filmed at real nightlife spots in Brooklyn, adding a raw and unscripted energy to the sequences.
The production team selected venues with flashing lights, tight interiors, and loud music — all contributing to Nina’s sense of disorientation. These scenes were designed to contrast sharply with the disciplined, quiet world of ballet.
4. Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center
Location: Brooklyn, New York City
Nina’s psychological unraveling is central to the film’s narrative. Several of the hospital or mental health-related scenes — especially those involving her mother Erica (played by Barbara Hershey) — were shot at the Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in Brooklyn.
Its clinical appearance and layout added authenticity to the increasingly unsettling moments when Nina begins to lose her grip on reality. The cold, sterile corridors contrast sharply with the softness of the ballet world, highlighting her descent into mental instability.
5. Bowling Green Station Area
Location: Lower Manhattan, New York City
A few short but striking sequences were filmed around Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan, particularly when Nina begins to feel stalked or threatened. The fast-paced movement of people and the intense city noise contributed to the psychological pressure that builds throughout the film.
These street-level shots were filmed in natural light using handheld cameras, a technique Aronofsky favored for its realism. These moments were key in making New York feel like both a vibrant city and a psychological cage for the protagonist.
6. Broadway and Other Manhattan Streets
Location: Manhattan, New York City
Several everyday locations throughout Manhattan, especially around Broadway, were used to film transitional and external sequences — such as Nina walking to and from the theatre or her home. These shots not only reflect the city’s constant energy but also emphasize Nina’s isolation within a crowd.
Filming permits for Manhattan streets can be challenging to secure, so many of these scenes were captured using guerrilla-style filming — small crews, natural light, and minimal public interference. Aronofsky’s experience shooting The Wrestler with similar methods served him well during this production.
7. Interior Apartment Scenes – Manhattan Apartments
Location: Various locations, Manhattan
Nina’s claustrophobic home life with her overbearing mother (played by Barbara Hershey) was filmed in a residential apartment in Manhattan. The apartment interiors were designed to feel small, oppressive, and overly controlled — symbolic of Nina’s emotional state.
Although the exact address has not been publicly confirmed, production notes and interviews indicate it was a real apartment located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The cramped space, muted tones, and eerie lighting added to the film’s psychological tension.
8. General Scenes – New York City, New York
While the film primarily focused on ballet studios, rehearsal halls, and intimate home settings, many shots captured the natural pulse of New York City. Cafés, subways, and parks served as subtle backdrops in the film — always buzzing but never quite comforting.
New York was not just a location in Black Swan; it was a character in itself. The city’s contrasting environments — glamorous performance halls versus grim hospital corridors — mirrored Nina’s dual struggle as both the White Swan and the Black Swan.
Real Dancers and Ballet Professionals on Set
Adding to the authenticity of these locations was the decision to cast real dancers and ballet professionals in supporting roles. Members of the Pennsylvania Ballet were cast as the film’s corps de ballet. Scenes with dozens of dancers practicing or performing were shot at SUNY Purchase using these real dancers, providing a sense of realism that only experienced performers could bring.
Ballet mistresses and dance coaches were present throughout the shoot, and professional soloists like Sarah Lane and María Riccetto were used as doubles for Portman and Kunis in the more technically demanding scenes.
