The minimum weight of the dancers in the Big Ballet company is 15 stone, but they all manage to dance gracefully around the stage, writes Nick Elvin

The archetypal image of the ballerina may be that of a graceful and lithe dancer, but one Russian ballet company is proving that you don't have be slim to be successful.

The Big Ballet uses dancers who have a high minimum weight in its productions – and it's an approach that is proving very popular with audiences.

But now it seems healthier lifestyles have meant for the first time in its 16-year history, the company has had to lower its strict weight requirement from 17 stone down to 15 stone, due to a drop in the average weight of auditioning hopefuls.

Comprising 16 female dancers, The Big Ballet is back for its third UK tour – the last time it was here, in 2008, the average weight of the performers stood at a fraction under 20 stone.

In fact, the minimum of 17 stone was so strict, a principal dancer with the show was even temporarily excluded from pre-tour training sessions after dropping beneath that weight.

The Big Ballet's tour producer, Alexej Ignatow, says: “While many of the original dancers are retained for the forthcoming tour, open auditions regularly take place in Russia; events which were initially so heavily oversubscribed with potential dancers weighing the original required minimum of 15 stone, that the level was actually raised to 17 stone.

“However, the number of hopefuls weighing 17 stone has dropped significantly in the past two years, coinciding with sustained global campaigns for healthier eating, perhaps most notably spearheaded by celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver.”

Each tour (the current one features a gruelling 39 dates) is accompanied by vigorous training and fitness sessions, however the dancers manage to keep their weight up.

The first section of each show is a parody of popular classical ballets. The second part sees dancers perform to more contemporary music, such as Robbie Williams, Tom Jones’s Sex Bomb and Go West by Pet Shop Boys, and they even dance to one number in silky, buttock-less outfits.

The Big Ballet was established by Russian choreographer, Eugene Panfilov who decided to prove that people of larger build are able to move with similar grace, dignity and flare to traditional dancers, and also that he would be able to create a professional ballet troupe from dancers with no previous experience.

Panfilov wanted to challenge social standards in a world he saw as obsessed with slenderness and beauty. Panfilov was murdered by intruders at his home in the city of Perm in 2002, but his ballet company continues to be a success.

Alexej adds: “The new weight requirement will not really affect the show, only bring it back in alignment with creator Panfilov’s original vision.”

The Big Ballet is at Wyllyotts Centre, Potters Bar, on Friday, March 18, 8pm. Details: 01707 645005