World Ballet Company is set to enchant audiences with the return of its breathtaking production of Swan Lake, one of the most beloved and enduring ballets of all time. As part of the company’s national tour during the second half of the 2025-26 season, the performance will take place on March 25 at 7 p.m. at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, one of more than 80 stops across the country.
This production offers audiences a rare and unforgettable experience: a live orchestra performing Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic score in real time. Far more than accompaniment, the sweeping music is a masterwork in its own right, rich with emotion and technical complexity. Performed live, it heightens the drama onstage, creating a fully immersive experience where music and movement exist in perfect harmony.
Now in its fourth full season, World Ballet Company has quickly established itself as one of the nation’s leading touring ballet companies. Dedicated to making ballet accessible and engaging, the company performs in more than 180 cities each year across over 40 states, bringing cinematic staging and reimagined classics to audiences large and small.
“We believe ballet is for everyone, and the response from audiences nationwide has been incredible,” said producer Gulya Hartwick, who co-founded the company with Sasha Gorskaya. “Swan Lake is arguably the most iconic ballet ever created, and we’re thrilled to bring this majestic production to your town.”
The production features choreography by Nadezhda Kalinina, based on the original staging by Marius Petipa. Audiences will be captivated by more than 150 hand-sewn costumes; richly detailed, hand-painted sets created using centuries-old theatrical techniques; and stunning projection and multimedia visuals.
A timeless tale of love, betrayal and transformation, Swan Lake follows Prince Siegfried and Odette, a princess cursed to live as a swan by day. With unforgettable moments, such as the Dance of the Little Swans and the spellbinding Black Swan’s 32 fouettés, the ballet remains one of the most technically demanding and emotionally powerful works in classical dance.
Tickets range from $58.55-$135.35 and are on sale now at www.rpfunding.com.