The English National Ballet’s production of ROMEO & JULIET beautifully blends Prokofiev’s score and Nureyev’s choreography, at the London Coliseum in St Martin’s Lane, WC2.

WHETHER you’re a ballet expert, or a newcomer to classical dance, the English National Ballet’s latest production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet will have you in raptures.

The company, which is celebrating its 60th birthday, showcases the late Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev’s adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy at its very best.

Patricia Ruanne (who played Juliet to Nureyev’s Romeo in 1977) and Fr�d�ric Jahn (the original Tybalt) have been coaching the cast for this epic piece of dance theatre.

The performance is exhilarating from start to finish. Nureyev’s choreography tells the story of the star-crossed Italian lovers without a word uttered. Even the youngest dancers show maturity beyond their years.

Vadim Muntagirov is immensely charismatic and elegant as Romeo, proving he deserves the title of “a rising star”. By contrast, his Juliet (Daria Klimentov�), demonstrates a faultless technical ability which comes with age.

Juan Rodr�guez (Mercutio) and Fabian Reimair (Tybalt) brilliantly characterise the two famous rivals. Rodr�guez is warmly comic, whilst Reimair strikes an ominous tone every time he enters the stage.

Sergei Prokofiev’s score, a masterpiece in its own right, provides the perfect accompaniment to Nureyev’s adaptation. In Dance of the Knights dance and music are woven effortlessly together to create a heart-stopping production.

This is ballet at its best - see it and be amazed.

* Showing at the London Coliseum in St Martin’s Lane, WC2, until Saturday, January 15.