CityLife

Swan Lake @ Palace Theatre

TWICE nominated for a Manchester Evening News Theatre Award (first in 1999 for its original Arena version, and again in 2001 for its adaptation to traditional staging) Derek Deane's Swan Lake for English National Ballet is one of the best performances you are likely to see.

It's also about the best introduction to classical ballet anyone could ask for, using the traditional story (plus a short prologue showing Odette being captured by the evil Rothbart), and the great choreography by Petipa and Ivanov, plus some brilliant additional stuff by Ashton.

Deane's own contribution comes mainly in the first act, which has a charmingly unaristocratic village-revels feel about it, and the design by Peter Farmer gives rich colour values here (and in act three) to balance the pale and watery swan scenes.

A few early ensembles still have rather a lot of circular movement in them, if you look for it, but the classic corps de ballet tableaux are superbly realised by this company, happily on top form in every way.

Daria Klimentova gives Odette tragic hauteur, and revels in her sexy Odile portrayal.

Dmitri Gruzdyev is a worthy Siegfried in his technical prowess - and old friends such as Yat-Sen Chang, whose bonhomie and breadth light up the stage, contribute powerfully, too.

Last night's pas de quatre in act one and mazurka in act three went particularly well, and Anthony Twiner drew lively sounds from the orchestra.

Thank goodness ENB really is a national company, and still keeps faith with Manchester's biggest mainstream theatre.

Swan Lake continues at the Palace Theatre until Saturday, March 27. Tickets are priced £5 - £33. Call 0870 060 1768 or click here to book.