THE legendary Kirov Ballet, the most famous ballet company in the world, performs in the North-west for the first time at The Lowry with Swan Lake and La Bayadre from Monday to Saturday, April 28 to May 3.

Tickets for the show went on sale this week, and Robert Robson, The Lowry's theatres director, said: "We're extremely proud to be the first venue to host this exciting landmark dance event in the North West. Classical ballet just doesn't come any bigger or better than this."

The Kirov will bring 185 company members to The Lowry, including 65 musicians and about 90 dancers. With a history stretching back to the middle of the eighteenth century, the Kirov has a continuous tradition of excellence unrivalled by any other ballet company in the world.

The Kirov will dance two of its greatest and most spectacular productions at The Lowry, brought in their entirety from its home -- the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Tickets from the box office on 0161 876 2000.