FOR three nights the Russian State Ballet of Siberia will bring to life adaptations of three of the world’s most popular ballets.

For the 17th year the company returns to the UK, bringing its exquisite performances to Basingstoke from February 25.

The Russian State Ballet of Siberia has established itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and depth.

The soloists and corps de ballet have wowed audiences around the world with their breath-taking physical ability and beautiful costumes as each storyline unfolds to the live accompaniment of the orchestra.

This year the group returns to Basingstoke to perform Swan Lake (February 25), La Fille mal gardée (February 26) and The Nutcracker (February 27).

La Fille mal gardée is recreated by Alexander Gorsky, and remains one of the oldest ballets still regularly performed.

A gentle tale of love thwarted, unrequited and found, with comedy elements interwoven throughout.

La Fille mal gardée conjures up a world of pastoral simplicity where a farm boy woos a flirty farmer’s daughter and they find inventive ways to avoid her mother.

As well as La Fille mal gardée, the Russian State Ballet of Siberia will bring greatest romantic ballet of all time to life in the form of Swan Lake.

From the impressive splendour of the Palace ballroom to the moon-lit lake where swans glide in perfect formation, this compelling tale of tragic romance has it all.

Finally, the company will close their stay in the town with the most famous of fantasy ballets in the form of the Nutcracker.

When midnight strikes the audience is swept away to a fairy-tale world where nothing is quite as it seems, toy dolls spring to life, the Mouse King and his mouse army battle with the Nutcracker Prince and we travel through the Land of Snow to an enchanted place where the magic really begins.

For more information and tickets on the three performances visit anvilarts.org.uk.