Bulgaria's Varna International Ballet and Orchestra performing in Blackpool for the first time

The Varna International Ballet and Orchestra will perform Swan Lake, Giselle and the Nutcracker suites at Blackpool Grand Theatre on dates in mid-January.

Renowned for its award-winning soloists and magnificent corps de ballet, the company has been delighting audiences for decades at home in Bulgaria and abroad with performances of the highest quality.

Now the company, which takes its name from the port city and seaside resort of Varna, on the Black Sea, is making its Blackpool debut, led by artistic director Daniela Dimova and music director and chief Conductor Peter Tuleshkov.

Daniela said: “We are thrilled to be bringing our highly talented company of dancers and musicians to the UK for the very first time.

"We can’t wait to perform for British audiences and to bring these magical ballets to life on stage.”

Varna State Opera was founded in 1947 by the renowned Bulgarian tenor Peter Raycheff andwas then furtee developed by Galina and Stefan Yordanov who were artistic directors and choreographers from 1960 to 1985.

They formed the image of the Varna Ballet and brought it to the international stage.

Swan Lake is regarded as the greatest romantic ballet of all time and is brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s haunting and unforgettable score, The story is based on a German folk tale of tells the tragic story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse, and the prince who falls in love with her.

The moving story of delicate Giselle and her aristocratic but duplicitous lover Albrecht is set to a glorious score by French composer Adolphe Adam, who also wrote the music for popular carol O Holy Night.

The Nutcracker is the most famous of fantasy ballets for all the family and begins as night falls on Christmas Eve, when toy dolls spring to life and the Mouse-king and his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker Prince.

Giselle will be staged at Blackpool Grand on Friday January 13, Swan Lake on Saturday January 14 and The Nutcracker on Sunday January 15, with all shows at 2.30pm and 7.30pm each day.

Visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk for details on tickets.