The toys come to life at a Christmas party in The Nutcracker at the Theatre Royal Bath
There is invariably a frisson of expectation when a Russian ballet company comes to town.
And when they are interpreting the music of their compatriot Tchaikovsky, the expectation is heightened.
Moscow City Ballet deliver a perfectly delightful Nutcracker.
The story is of a Christmas party, an imaginative young girl and a Godfather who brings toys to life and creates magic.
These dancers have a terrific sense of theatre as well as being superb dancers, so even if you haven't read the programme notes beforehand, you can follow the story.
Valeria Bystrova as Clara, the young girl, is exquisite.
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She has perfect poise and balance and unbelievable suppleness.
Gennadiy Batalov as Drosselmeier creates a charismatic, almost Machiavellian figure.
The Nutcracker Prince is danced by Talgat Kazhabayev, a superbly athletic dancer who makes Bystrova look like a feather when he lifts and spins her.
The Doll (Valeria Guseva), Nutcracker Doll (Valentin Grishenko) and Mouse King Doll (Nikolai Zhuchkov), play their parts with uncanny realism.
The discipline and cohesion of the corps de ballet is brilliant - not a term I use lightly. They are perfectly synchronised in every move and with the choreography of artistic director Victor Smirnov-Golovanov, create mesmeric scenes of pure delight.
They also aid and abet the magic element, as they cleverly disguise exits and entrances. Characters suddenly appear and quietly vanish through the magician's art of distraction.
It's fun and colourful too, especially the multinational dances, Spanish, Oriental, Chinese and Russian which raise a laugh.
The sets are elaborate backdrops.
The Theatre Royal stage is not ideal for extravagant choreography but the principals coped well, having clearly calculated the distance available for each leap.
The company is also performing Cinderella to Prokofiev's music this week. It won't be any less pleasing.
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