MEMBERS of The Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet will be en pointe in Poole for four nights this week with two Tchaikovsky favourites, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.

Under the direction of former Prima Ballerina, Marina Medvetskaya, Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet has won plaudits across Russia, Scandinavia and the United States.

Now audiences in Dorset have the opportunity to experience the artistry of this internationally acclaimed company closer to home at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts.

The four-night run opens tomorrow on January 9, with a new staging of the fairy tale ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, in which Tchaikovsky’s glorious score sets the scene for the enchanting and romantic story of Princess Aurora, who is rescued from a deep sleep by her valiant Prince, and saved from the wicked Carabosse.

Next up, on January 11 and 12, the company presents the perennially popular Swan Lake, the story of the Prince and the Swan Princess - a tragic tale of love that triumphs over evil and is set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime, soaring, dramatic score performed by a live orchestra.

A spokesman for the tour said: “St Petersburg Classic Ballet combines classical training and technique with the best-loved Russian ballets, accompanied by a full orchestra, to entertain audiences in grand style.”

Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty will pirouette into Lighthouse Poole from Wednesday, January 9 to Saturday, January 12 with performances starting at 7.30pm.

There will also be matinees on Thursday and Saturday this week at 2.30pm.

Tickets are priced at £39.50, £30 and £26. Concessions are also available. To book, or for more information, call the theatre box office on 01202 280000 or visit website lighthousepoole.co.uk