Ballet back for New Year

Exquisite dance, lavish costumes and lush accompaniment by a full live orchestra are the promise.

Romeo & Juliet tells Shakespeare’s tragic tale of young love pitted against family rivalry, set against Prokofiev’s score. In The Nutcracker, colourful fairytale characters come to life on a magical Christmas Eve, including the Mouse King, the Toy Soldier and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Founded by Victor Smirnov-Golovanov, Moscow City Ballet have been one of Russia’s most successful touring companies for the past 20 years.

A spokesman said: “The company is the outcome of the recent reforms in post-Soviet Russia. It is a private enterprise and is not subsidized by the government.

“The company’s first appearance was in 1989 in Seoul, Korea. Its success outside of Russia makes it one of Russia’s most extensively touring ballet companies.

“Since 1988, Moscow City Ballet has appeared in Belgium, Cyprus, Egypt, Holland, Hong-Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Estonia, Peoples Republic of China, Philippines, Republic Korea, R.O.C. Taiwan, Singapore, United Kingdom, and, naturally, in Russia itself.

“The company’s greatest success has been in the United Kingdom where it has given more than 800 performances since 1991, accompanied by the National Ballet Orchestra. “Considering classical ballet to be an important part of the national heritage of Russia, Victor Smirnov-Golovanov aims to bring it to as wide a public as possible, especially the new generation of ballet-going youngsters.”

Tickets on 01243 781312.