TCHAIKOVSKY may have struggled to shine without the support of an orchestra during Thursday’s performance of Swan Lake at Tivoli Theatre– but the talented company of dancers from the Vienna Festival Ballet certainly did not.

If the performance had followed the traditional ending of Swan Lake (which sees the love between Prince Siegfried and Queen of the Swans Odette lead to their tragic deaths), the moment might not have had enough gravitas to move the audience.

However, this production opted for a happy-ever-after for the couple that suited the atmosphere on stage perfectly.

While there were some beautiful and enchanting dances from the swans – Perdita-Jayne Lancaster was effortlessly graceful in her lead role – equally captivating moments came from the corps during their lively and upbeat group dances in the palace.

One of the most engaging performers was the court jester, played by Ashley Selfe. He drew frequent giggles from the audience with his comical expressions and playful moves and brought a refreshingly uplifting mood to the ballet.

While there was plenty to enjoy with the dances and scenes of Acts one and two, the plot really took off in Act three when Von Rothbart arrived at the palace in disguise with his temptress daughter Odile.

The impressive fouettés performed by both the prince and Odile were enough to make us dizzy and earned extra applause from the audience.

With a dramatic fight scene between the prince and Von Rothbart and the long-awaited freeing of the swans, it all seemed to come to an abrupt, albeit satisfying, ending when the prince and Odette came back on stage for a brief final embrace.