The passion and magic of a European Ballet performance can be seen at Lancaster's Grand Theatre on Saturday, June 5 (7pm). Led and directed by Stanislav Tchassov, former principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, the company of first-class international dancers presents excerpts from famous classics such as Swan Lake and Giselle with the dances of favourite fairy-tale characters from The Sleeping Beauty, delightful Sweet Kingdom's doll dances from The Nutcracker, a sensual and elegant Daphnis and Chloe pas de deux to the glorious score of Ravel, and a scene from the passionate and thrilling Carmen, set to Bizet's music. Tickets are £11.50-£14.50/ children £8.50 with concessions available. On the same day, at 4pm, there will be a workshop with dancers from the company and open to all ages and abilities. It costs £5 and needs to be booked in advance. For performance and workshop bookings contact the box office on 01524-64695.

AN EVENING of sacred, secular and world music, celebrating the human voice together with instrumental pieces, is being staged at Cartmel Priory on Sunday (8pm). The concert is to raise money for local singer Helen Vaughan's dialysis treatment while visiting family in Vancouver and she will be performing with a capella group Nothing To Prove. The group is made up of ten experienced women singers, including members of Levens Choir. The concert also features Five in a Bar - five women who sing folk, world, and contemporary songs. Also in the programme is organist and composer Adrian Self, accompanying his wife, Pam, and Helen Vaughan; Levens choir soloist Julie Eckersley will perform pieces by Mozart and Handel accompanied by Andrew Leavett on piano, and there will be a mixture of instrumentals by members of the talented Gray family from Cartmel. An auction on the night will include work by The Westmorland Gazette cartoonist Colin Shelbourn. Tickets are £6.

TAFFY Thomas's Storyteller's Garden is open this weekend with Jack Meets Anansi tomorrow (Saturday, 11am) featuring stories from Grasmere's man of many words and Stockport's Caribbean storyteller Lizzy Hughes, plus later at 3pm More Anansi Stories with Lizzy. On Sunday there's Taffy and friends telling Lakeland Legends and Ghost Stories by Firelight (9pm) and on Monday the May Minifest continues with a Riverside Storywalk (10.30am) as well as Major Mustard's Puppets presenting both Stories of King Arthur (noon) and Robin Hood versus Guy of Guisburn (3pm). Old Ernie a quarter-size traction steam engine will also be in attendance on Monday. For further information contact 015394-35641.

Through art, film and performance, Fusion examines memory, the passage of time and realisation of change and presents a work-in-progress show at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre on Wednesday, June 9 in the Malt Room. Based at the Brewery, Fusion was established last July in response to a need for a creative platform for young people aged between 18-25. The event is free and runs from 7pm. For further details about Fusion or the event contact Tricia Gordon on 01539-722833, ext 274.

ST ANDREW'S University Madrigal Group Choir performs at Kendal Parish Church on Sunday as part of its summer tour around the UK. Appearing at the church's 6.30pm evensong as well as in concert at 7.45pm, the singers will be directed by Adam Martin through a programme which includes a wide selection of unaccompanied choral music written over the past 800 years.

WILDLIFE paintings and prints by Janet Ware are on show in the upstairs gallery space at Kendal Library until June 5. Janet's show also features a few abstract works and images connected to the Kirkby Stephen East Station Restoration.

ALAN Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking sees Grasmere Players back on the Grasmere Village Hall stage with performances tonight (Friday) and tomorrow, plus June 2/9/16/23/30 and July 7/9/14. Performances start at 8pm. Tickets are £5/ juniors £3 in advance from Barney's Newsbox or at the door.