The most famous and beloved ballet of all time is set to dazzle and wow Southland audiences this month.

The Imperial Russian Ballet Company's production of Swan Lake will take to the stage at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill next week, and principal dancer Lina Seveliova said the ballet is the "jewel in the crown" for all of ballet.

She said that playing the role of Odette, a princess who is turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer, was an honour as it was usually reserved for more experienced dancers who were able to fully adapt to playing such a complicated role.

"In the old days a ballerina wouldn’t have been allowed to dance Swan Lake unless she reached 30 years old because it was believed that a woman needed to grow emotionally and discover herself as a dancer to develop certain techniques because it is a technically very complicated dance."

Imperial Russian Ballet principal dancer Lina Seveliova.

Mrs Seveliova said the role had helped her grow as a woman, especially when it came to switching between both the black and white swan personas.

"Every year I discover myself as a woman through both characters. Through the white swan and the black swan who are absolutely opposite. One is romantic and the black swan is the opposite. I think that these two characters are in every woman and every woman comes to conditions and to terms of both characters during the show."

She said she endures a rigorous training regime to allow her to perform at her best, allowing upwards of seven hours a day of training.

But despite the heavy training load, she said she still allows herself to take time to enjoy local attractions when travelling.

Everytime when I travel I try and find at least one or two hours where I can have a look around. A few years ago I watched the movie The World's Fastest Indian and I was really impressed as I found out he was from Invercargill so I'd like to see it in the museum."

Swan Lake is on at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill on Friday, November 22 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available HERE.

• The Advocate South and Southland App are giving away a double pass to Swan Lake at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill on November 22. To go in the draw to win tickets, simply click on the WIN button.