Eye Sight

Most men who leave their fiancees for richer women with better social connections can expect little more than an attack on their wardrobes with the dressmaking scissors. Solor, the hero of Petipa's 1877 melodrama La Bayadere, gets harsher treatment. The gods, outraged at his treatment of the lovely temple dancer, Nikiya, stage the collapse of the temple during his wedding to her rival, the scheming Rajah's daughter Gamzatti. It's rubbish, but it's imperial rubbish and Natalia Makarova's 1989 production for the Royal Ballet manages to salvage a little of the magic.

The dream ticket this season is for tonight's sell-out performance which is scheduled to feature Sylvie Guillem as Nikiya, Jonathan Cope as her tiger- slaying love-rat and Darcey Bussell as the Rajah's daughter. This cast also dances on 25 and 27 March. Other highlights include Miyako Yoshida's debut in the ballet (26 March, 3 April) and the visit of Igor Zelensky, star of both Kirov and New York City Ballet who partners Darcey Bussell making her debut in the role of Nikiya on 31 March and 4,10 April. Asked how he felt about dancing with Miss Bussell again he remarked: "I love to dance with Darcey. She's a beautiful dancer. I feel her."

Louise Levene

The Royal Ballet, In rep at The Royal Opera House, London WC2 (0171-304 4000)