THE Bolshoi ballet boldly takes on a new challenge with three ballets by three masters of modern and contemporary choreography before a world audience in their next live broadcast.

The broadcast from Moscow can be seen in Chepstow at The Drill Hall on Saturday, March 19, at 3pm.

For the first time the company performs The Cage by legendary Academy award-winning choreographer Jerome Robbins, originally created for New York City Ballet in 1951.

The Cage plunges into the world of natural selection, using Stravinsky’s daring score to depict the feral instinct compelling the female of an insect species to consider its male counterparts as prey.

Danish dancer and choreographer Harald Lander’s homage to classical ballet ‘Études’ brought him international fame. First performed nearly 70 years ago, it begins with traditional ballet exercises at the barre and ends with spectacular bravura displays.

While both these ballets date from the middle of the last century, the third in this contemporary dance programme is just ten years old. Created by Russian Alexei Ratmansky ‘Russian Seasons’ is an inventive and exciting combination of dance and musical flavours. Colourful and folklore-inspired, the ballet uses classical steps with elements of folk and jazz mixed in. Witty, with many moments of genuine humour for the six male and female dancers mixed with pathos and poignancy, it’s been hailed as a new Russian classic.

This programme, titled ‘A Contemporary Evening’, brings some of the best dancers in the world together with the some of the greatest creators of contemporary ballet.

Make sure of ‘the best seat in the house’ that these live broadcasts provide, with tickets costing £12 full and £10 concession from Chepstow Museum.

To book tickets, call 01291 625981. This is also a fundraising event in support of the museum.