Regina Willoughby as Juliet The world’s most famous lovers will take the stage next month when Columbia City Ballet presents its most requested ballet, the timeless love story of Romeo & Juliet. Performances will be February 3 and February 4 only at the Koger Center for the Arts.

Romeo & Juliet, based on William Shakespeare’s 400-year-old play, did not enter the modern ballet repertory until the Kirov Theater in Russia commissioned a score from composer Sergei Prokofiev in 1936. Prokofiev’s score was once considered too modern for ballet. It is now an enduring icon of 20th century music, and the production is a cornerstone of modern classics.

Columbia City Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet uses Prokofiev’s genius to tell the tale of two young lovers caught in the middle of their feuding families. Executive and Artistic Director William Starrett’s production intertwines dramatic sword fights with exquisite love duets and comic interludes to create an evening that captures the tragedy and beauty of Shakespeare’s masterpiece.

Starring as the starcrossed lovers, Ballerina Regina Willoughby will dance the role of Juliet for the first time in her career. Soloist Journy Wilkes-Davis takes the opposite lead role as Romeo.

Tickets range from $12-$35 and may be purchased online at www.capitoltickets.com or by calling the box office at 251-2222.