The classical-ballet oeuvre is jammed with tales of star-crossed lovers. "La Bayadère (The Temple Dancer)," originally staged by Marius Petipa and performed in 1877 Russia, is set in India. It pits fathers and daughters, princesses and warriors against each other in a chess game of checkmates that end with death and love.

The full-length ballet, restaged by Cheryl Rist, co-founder of Ballet Minnesota, is the centerpiece of the company’s  concerts this weekend at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Oksana Konobeyeva, formerly with the Bolshoi Theater, is the princess Nikiya. Andrei Jouravlev, from New Jersey Ballet, is Solor the warrior. Robert Cleary of Kanopy Dance Company portrays the High Brahmin.

Also on the program is a children’s story ballet, "At the Museum," choreographed by co-founder Andrew Rist. The tale is of 13 girls (from the Rists’ Classical Ballet Academy of Minnesota) who visit the Minneapolis Institute of Arts only to find paintings by Picasso, Degas and van Gogh have miraculously come to life.

Ballet Minnesota, established in 1987 by Andrew and Cheryl Rist, has been building audiences with family-friendly fare and solid performances. This weekend’s concerts —which are also part of the 21st annual Minnesota Dance Festival that the organization founded and hosts — seem similarly aimed to please.

Ballet Minnesota. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange, St. Paul. Tickets $12-$26; 651-290-1221.