IT’S not often the ballet comes to this part of Dorset so when I heard Swan Lake was being performed at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester, I jumped at the chance.

It’s always been one of my favourite ballets and transports me back to the times when I was agile enough to leap around in a tutu, admittedly nowhere near as elegantly – or quietly – as the Ballet Theatre UK troupe.

One of my first thoughts was how they were going to manage on such a small stage but they did so with flair, talent and creativity.

It did lack some of the more extravagant and dramatic set-pieces but there were still many stand-out moments, and although the set design was simple, it was striking and perfectly invoked the eerie and ethereal mood of Swan Lake.

As a whole, the first act took a while to warm up with a few timing issues and some laboured choreography but by the time the interval came I was sold.

The chorus demonstrated some excellent talent – particularly the solo dancer in the second act – and coped well with a minor wardrobe malfunction, but unfortunately the male dancers were outshone.

The part of Odette was performed flawlessly – if a little controlled – but for me the graceful and intoxicating Black Swan stole the show, many times over. Her talent and stage presence was overwhelming and left my friend and I unable to watch anybody else.

The costumes were beautiful. I particularly loved the green and red sparkling tutus, a twinkling nod to the festive season. It was the perfect way to wile away a Christmas afternoon.