Love story with a difference

The four performances at the Aotea Centre will be the last of the ballet's national tour. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Dozens of dancers, music and a couple of young lovers - the ballet's come to town.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet company's Coppelia is on at the Aotea Centre this week.

The story of young Franz and his potentially fatal infatuation with the beautiful life-sized doll Coppelia is expected to attract thousands of fans for its Auckland City shows.

The four performances at the Aotea Centre will be the last of the ballet's national tour, with audiences in Invercargill, Dunedin, Wellington and Napier all being treated to shows over the past month.

Gallery: The Royal New Zealand Ballet Company's Coppelia

Image 1 of 10: Royal New Zealand Ballet's performance of Coppelia at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland. Photo / Sara Ivey

Auckland ballet enthusiasts have already been given a sneak preview of the show, with two performances at Takapuna's Bruce Mason Centre at the weekend. Dozens of young girls dressed in their Sunday best packed into yesterday's matinee performance at the centre.

This week's shows, beginning on Wednesday evening, will also feature the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.