There are three excellent reasons to see the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre – Irina Kolesnikova, Irina Kolesnikova and Irina Kolesnikova.


When this company had its South African premiere on Thursday night with Swan Lake, its danced into the competitive memory of great international 20th century guest artists, local productions and distinguished homegrown Odette-Odile`s.


Its decades since a full imported staging of this revered classic has reached our stages, yet for audiences steeped in the State Theatre Ballet legacy, there are certain resonances in this Russian version – especially the happy ending. But that`s where e similarities end.


The choreography, particularly the Act 1 pas de trios, danced with great finesse by principal dancers Olga Ovchinnikova, Sabina Yapparova and Andrei Yakhnuk; the divertissements, in Act 3, and the complex final Act, are fresh (to South African eyes).


At first sight this production, presented by Edgley International, is competent but nothing special.
The Prince, Dmitry Akulinin, is lean and handsome, the young company is mainly assured, the character work is accomplished and the set rather 19th century.


Then in the second scene, at the lake, with the entrance of Irina Kolesnikova as the doomed swan princess, the ordinary turns into the extraordinary.


Immediately evident is the sheer drama of her liquid line which imbues this Odette, and later her vividly intelligent Odile, with a thrilling aesthetic plumage.


Kolesnikova may have a stellar technique (capable of an avalanche of razor sharp fouettes despite suffering from the altitude) but she is no whizzbang technician in the hollow sense of the world, thanks to her emotional intensity.


As the evening progressed the design improves, the Prince was more at ease (although there was that one fumbled landing marring perfection in the birthday ball solo variation) and the overall dancing impressed with its refinement.
Dmitry Shevtsov`s Jester is pretty low key but he can flaunt virtuosity when needed.


For the rest of its national tour this is bound to settle down. An orchestra with a sensitive conductor is a plus. But there`s no denying that Irina Kolesnikova not only lifts this company above the average but that her artistry will be engraved on treasured memories.