The great city of Voronezh is 300 miles southeast of Moscow in the heart of Russia.

Voronezh, population 1.5 million, was founded in 1585 by Tsar Feodor I. It is not far from the Ukraine and has had settlements since the Stone Age.

Nestled in Voronezh is the Voronezh Choreographic Institute where dancers are chosen at the age of eight to begin their studies of dance, music and academics.

The children are chosen by their ability and potential to become professional performers. These special children leave their parents at such a young age to study from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, including three hours of dance training.

Igor Levin, managing director of Voronezh State Ballet Theatre, says, "It's like jail."

The children do have spring and winter break to reunite with their parents after such grueling training. The Institute turns out wonderful dancers that move onto the Voronezh State Ballet Theatre of Russia, established in 1961, to perform all over the world.

The Voronezh State Ballet Theatre employs 600 and is funded by the Russian government. The touring company, known internationally as the State Ballet Theatre of Russia, of 65 dancers will grace the stage with undoubtedly first-rate performances. The tour travelling across the United States and Canada includes three productions.

The State Ballet Theatre of Russia presents an adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14, State Theatre for the Arts, 453 Northampton St., Easton.

State Ballet Theatre of Russia Artistic Director Olga Nepomniashchaya, 57, and a former principal dancer of the company for 30 years, says, "The whole focus of the production is the tragedy of love, the love of Romeo and Juliet and how they kill themselves for love."

Nepomniashchaya gives the dancers notes and comments after intermission and following each performance. She says that she emphasizes to the dancers, "The most important thing to present is the emotion."

The capturing of the highly-emotional element of "Romeo and Juliet" is paramount to winning over an audience. Juliet, played by principal dancer Yulia Nepomnyashchaya, will dance with her Romeo, played by Alexander Lityagin. Their performance is sure to bring a tear to the audience's eye.

With music composed by Sergei Prokofiev, "Romeo and Juliet" will be performed in two acts choreographed by Michael Lavrosky, a former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet.

The "Romeo and Juliet" ballet stays true to the original Shakespeare storyline: that of two star-crossed lovers from feuding families that ends in the ultimate tragedy, that of dying for love. How apropos that this tragic yet romantic and beloved ballet is being performed on St. Valentine's Day.