Classical ballet comes to the Bermuda Festival stage tonight when the St. Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre of Marina Medvetskaya opens a three-night run at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts.

Formed in 1996, its artists represent a cross-section of the best of the Russian tradition of classical ballet. Presented by artistic director Ms Medvetskaya and her dancers, the programme is intended to pay homage to the great traditions and bright future of this spiritually uplifting and inspiring art form.

The Company?s repertoire currently consists of renowned classical compositions by choreographers such as Petipa, Ivanov, Vainonen, and the great Russian teacher/choreographer Agrippina Vaganova.

Vaganova?s philosophy was that ?classical? meant ?perfection?, and without the technical perfection of classical ballet training it would be harder for an artist to achieve true artistic greatness.

Classical ballet endures because it achieves technical brilliance, which allows the artist to shape the choreography and ?message? of the ballet.

With the St. Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre, the Bermuda Festival brings to its stage an artistic director and her dancers whose technique and discipline promise the very best of the genre, and an inspiring evening imbued with joy and beauty.

Performances of the St. Petersburg Classical Ballet take place tonight, tomorrow night and Sunday night begin at 8 p.m.

Please note: The doors to the theatre will close five minutes before curtain time, and there will be no late admissions until the interval. For ticket information visit the Festival box office next to the Ferry terminal on Front Street between noon and 2 p.m., or ( 296-5774.