ONE of the most beautiful and ­popular of all classical ballets will grace the stage of the Gordon Craig Theatre next week. The world-renowned Moscow Ballet – La Classique will perform Tchaikovsky s Swan Lake. The ballet was originally presented at the Bo

ONE of the most beautiful and ­popular of all classical ballets will grace the stage of the Gordon Craig Theatre next week.

The world-renowned Moscow Ballet - La Classique will perform Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

The ballet was originally presented at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 1877, but was superseded by a new ­choreographed version by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov at the Maryinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in 1895.

It was in this version that Ivanov­­ choreographed the famous Act II as part of a memorial tribute to Tchaikovsky, who died the previous year.

The updated Swan Lake has now been ­performed by almost every ballet ­company in the world.

It is a story which follows a prince whose mother suggests he select his future wife at the formal celebration of his coming of age the next day.

However, Prince Siegfried decides to go hunting and alone by a lake he sees Odette - Queen of the Swans.

With a spell placed upon her by evil ­sorcerer Von Rothbart, Odelle must remain a swan except between midnight and dawn, unless she is saved by a true love. Of course Prince Siegfried swears his undying love, but Rothbart wickedly ­disguises his own daughter, Odile, as the swan-maiden. When Siegfried realises, he collapses in guilt and despair, but will Odette forgive him and be restored to her human form?

The famous La Classique was founded in 1990 with ballet dancers from the leading theatres of the CIS countries, and the Bolshoi, Kirov and Ballet Theatres of Kiev and Odessa.

And celebrated soloists Nadejda Ivanova, Iryna Klyuyeva, Andrey Lyapin, and Dmitry Smirnov will lead the Moscow Ballet Company under the ­direction of Elik Melikov.

Swan Lake will be on stage at the ­Gordon Craig Theatre from March 21-22 at 7.45pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £16-19 and are ­available from the box office on 08700 131030 or online at www.gordon-craig.co.uk