Ballerina Laura Graham heads the group of dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet who fly in this week for four shows at City Hall.

Canada's oldest dance company, formed in 1939, has achieved international fame with a repertoire that includes the classics and masterpieces of modern choreography.

Laura Graham, who is equally at home in Swan Lake or Le Jazz Hot (which she will dance in Bermuda), is a popular guest artist, appearing with major companies all over the world. For her Bermuda appearance, she will dance the lead role in Balanchine's famous Allegro Brillante, Canadian choreographer Brian MacDonald's Pas D'Action and Hans von Manen's Adagio Hammerklavier.

Under the sponsorship of the Bermuda Ballet Association, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet will offer two separate programmes.

Programme I (November 6 and 7) will include Allegro Brillante, La Princess et Le Soldat set to music by Stravinsky, a major ballet by Jiri Kylian, entitled Stoolgame, as well as his pas de deux, Nuages and Pas D'Action.

Programme II (November 8 and 9) opens with one of ballet's great favourites, Bournonville's Napoli (Pas de Six), followed by Adagio Hammerklavier, Le Jazz Hot, and the humorous La Folia.

Australian John Meehan, the Company's artistic director since 1990, will accompany the group to Bermuda. As a top classical dancer, Mr. Meehan created the role of Count Danilo in the Australian Ballet's production of The Merry Widow, dancing opposite Dame Margot Fonteyn in London and New York.

On opening night, there will be a champagne reception in the National Gallery after the show, where the public can meet the dancers. Tickets for this performance are $50, all other performances, $25. Students will be admitted to the Sunday evening performance (half-term next day!) for $12. Tickets from the Visitors Service Bureau (tel. 295-1727) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

TOP FORM -- Dancer Laura Graham here for four shows.