MOSCOW City Ballet conjured up a timeless tale of deceit and doomed love as Swan Lake took flight in Blackpool on Monday.

The well-known company, which has given nearly 2000 performances in the UK, stuck to an atmospheric and traditional rendition of this Tchaikovsky classic, complete with swans in tutus and medieval style costumes.

Overall the dancers, from the large corps de ballet (how did they all fit on the stage) to the soloists and principals, gave a fine performance.

But Nourlan Abougaliev, though obviously well cast as the tall, dark and handsome Prince Siegfried, was disappointingly heavy on his feet, almost as if he was tired.

Picture the horse that surprises everyone when it just clears the six foot fence at Horse of the Year show and you'll get the picture.

In fact he was somewhat upstaged by the agile and energetic jester, Roman Arkhypov who proved he was no fool when it came to engaging the audience with facial ex/ gentle partner to the undoubted star of the show, Natalia Koungourtseva.

Her presence managed to shift the production into top gear from its technically good but unmoving start. Her ballet was graceful and full of emotion, trembling when -- as Odette -- she met the prince for the first time, later dancing as the confident and conniving Odile, the look-a-like daughter of evil enchanter Von Rothbart.

The corps de ballet was commendably together (important when your shoes make you sound like clog dancers) and the costumes a sumptuous feast for the eyes.

The same company is also staging The Nutcracker at the Grand, which if Swan Lake was anything to go by will be a very enjoyable evening.