(New Orleans)—Loyola University New Orleans College of Music and Fine Arts presents a Loyola Ballet Spring Concert on Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28, at 8 p.m., in Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall.

The performance features excerpts from the opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila," composed by Mikhail Glinka, original choreography by Michel Fokine and staged by Laura Zambrano and Gayle Parmelee. Rich in Eastern music and dance, the ballet features excerpts from Acts III and IV of the opera. Ruslan, a Kievan knight, is betrothed to Lyudmila, daughter of Svetosar, the Grand Prince of Kiev. Lyudmila is abducted from the wedding feast by Chernomor, an evil sorcerer. Ruslan and Ratmir, a Khazar prince and former suitor of Lyudmila, leave in search of Lyudmila. Naïna, an evil sorceress, lures Ratmir to her magic castle. Tired after the long journey, Ratmir wants to rest, but is soon bewitched by Naïna’s maidens through dance. Lyudmila is held captive at Chernomor’s magic garden. To relieve Lyudmila of her sorrow and to pay homage to himself, Chernomor commands Oriental dances to be performed.

The ballet also features additional performances, including Gilbert Rome’s contemporary work set to Saint Saëns' Violin Concerto #3, A Fairy Tale performed by Loyola Preparatory Ballet Program Intermediate Level Class with music by Anatol Lyadov and choreography by Cheryl O’Sullivan, as well as a selection from Ballet Minor, Nicole Sanders, set to Queen’s “I Want to Break Free.” The concert will conclude with a guest appearance by the Komenka Ethnic Dance Ensemble, recent recipients of a Big Easy Award for their performance of Bolero in the Loyola Fall Ballet Concert, performing a men’s dance known as a “verbunk” from Slovakia and a piece featuring Hungarian gypsy dance.

Tickets are $12 general admission, $8 students and Loyola community with ID. For tickets, please call (504) 865-3037 or visit http://mfa.loyno.edu/montage/