RAPID CITY, S.D. - You can travel the world, or the world can travel to you. On Tuesday night, the touring World Ballet Company arrived in Rapid City, delivering one of the most impressive classical ballet productions the local stage has ever hosted at The Monument.

The evening offered a showcase of athleticism and artistic discipline alongside a live orchestra without pauses or second takes, the ensemble demonstrated technical precision across the board. From the corps de ballet to the principals, every movement stayed in time and synchronized, standing out as a higher caliber presentation than recent touring stops in the area, including the Company's 2025 staging of "Sleeping Beauty."

Standout performances anchored the performance. Ballerina Lina Sheveleva, dancing the dual lead role of Odette and Odile, drew acclaim from the audience during a solo that featured 29 executed fouettés. Konstantin Geronik brought comedic relief and energy as the Jester, generating laughter across the auditorium. The visual presentation of the villain Rothbart was equally distinct, featuring an intricate, menacing costume reminiscent of a feather-covered Edward Scissorhands.

The visual and musical  elements matched the dancers' execution. Set and costume designer Sergey Novikov developed backdrops and lighting designs that ranged from bright and cheerful to dark and foreboding. Conductor Vadim Nikitin led the orchestra through Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's classic score, accompanying choreography credited to Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov and Nadezhda Kalinina.

Based in Los Angeles and led by founders and producers Sasha Gorskaya and Gulya Hartwick, the World Ballet Company tours more than 300 cities across the United States each year. The organization operates under the guiding mission to make classical dance accessible, promoting the motto "ballet everywhere, ballet for all."

"Art changes people, and people change the world," the company noted regarding its nationwide outreach, emphasizing the importance of providing high-caliber touring arts to communities where live classical ballet is rarely staged.

Rapid City does not need to leave town to experience a world-class live performance, but it does need to step out its front door and go to a show.