The legendary Kirov Ballet company is back at the Kennedy Center for a seven-performance engagement of La Bayadère. This 1941 three-act Soviet version of choreographer Marius Petipa’s classic ballet was performed flawlessly by the company on opening night Tuesday.

The ballet is set in India, and this production’s set and costumes are exotic, particularly the jewel-encrusted belly-baring costumes of some of the ballerinas. The company makes a distinct effort to make the story come alive with its large cast and life-sized animal props.