Sylvia is a three-act ballet that is inspired by characters from mythology.
The ballet is set to music by French composer Léo Delibes and premiered at the Palais Garnier in Paris in 1876.
The story of Sylvia is based on a play called Aminta written by Torquato Tasso - an Italian poet.
On its' debut Sylvia was not well received and the ballet was performed less and less often, as it did not prove to be popular with audiences.
It was the renowned dancer and choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton who resurrected the almost forgotten ballet in 1952.
However Sylvia still did not receive critical acclaim it is thought largely down to it's complicated plot.
Sir Frederick tried to give the ballet more popular appeal reducing it to a one-act piece but Sylvia could still not capture the publics' heart and Ashton eventually gave up on it in 1965.
Sir Frederick believed in Sylvia though and had expressed a desire to rework it once again into a three-act ballet.
This was picked up on by one of his former students, Christopher Newton, who rewrote Sylvia for the 21st Century audience and a three-act version close to Sir Frederick's vision appeared on stage in 2001.
The main characters in the ballet are Sylvia a nymph huntress and Aminta a young shepherd who is in love with Sylvia.
The other protagonists come from mythology - the God of Love Eros and Diana the Goddess of hunting.
The malevolent force within the ballet comes in the guise of Orion, a hunter who also desires Sylvia's affections.
Various forest creatures, nymphs and dryads provide the ballet's pastoral imagery, with other minor characters such as peasants and hunt attendants featured.
A Sacred wood is the title of the first act of Sylvia and the ballet begins with a ritualistic scene featuring the forest creatures and nymphs dancing for the God Eros.
Both Aminta and Sylvia stumble upon the scene and while Aminta remains hidden Sylvia and her hunt attendants make themselves known and mock Eros.
Sylvia shoots an arrow at the hidden Aminta, not realizing it is her ardent suitor, but injures both Eros and Aminta with her arrow.
The malevolent force in the play is Orion who is also in love with Sylvia and he has been watching the whole scene unfold and he uses the ensuing confusion as an opportunity to kidnap Sylvia.
Act two is called Orion's Island Cave and this secret location is where we find Orion and the kidnapped Sylvia.
Orion tries to appease Sylvia with wine and jewels but she will not be swayed and is distraught at the thought of the wounded Aminta.
Sylvia cunningly proceeds to get Orion drunk and invokes the God Eros to help her.
Eros appears to Sylvia with a vision of Aminta recovered and waiting for her to return.
Eros and Sylvia then leave for the Goddess Diana's temple where Aminta is waiting for Sylvia.
The final act - The Sea Coast Near The Temple Of Diana - sees Sylvia and Aminta briefly reunited however Orion is fast to catch up with them and starts to fight with Aminta.
During the fight Orion tries to enter Diana's shrine, which is forbidden making the Goddess angry and she refuses to allow Aminta and Sylvia to be together.
However all is not lost as God of love Eros presents Diana with a vision of her own young love.
The memory of this past love results in Diana reversing her decision and Sylvia and Amintas' union is allowed with the good will of the Gods.