AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Ballet Austin kicks off its new season later this month with "Belle A Tale of Beauty and the Beast." Despite the familiar story, this version is not intended for kids as it explores a darker side of the classic tale. "There won't be dancing tea cups and candelabras jumping around," said Artistic Director Stephen Mills. "It really tells this magical love story between this man and this woman, and the ways in which they come to accept each other and see themselves in the other person." The dancers are now in their fourth week of daily rehearsals before three performances at Austin's Long Center from Sept. 27-29. Ballet Austin will perform 'Belle A Tale of Beauty and the Beast' September 27-29. Courtesy: Ballet Austin Mills said the show is heavily influenced by Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film La Belle et la Bête, with costumes drawing inspiration from Alexander McQueen. "What I hope people take away from the performance is, first of all, that the magic is inherent in dance," Mills said. "There's more than one layer to any story, and this story happens to be very, very deep." The performance runs one hour and forty minutes with tickets ranging from $20 to $105. The show is the first of six performances this season by the company. Belle A Tale of Beauty and the BeastSeptember 27-29Donde Van Las MariposasOctober 12-13, 19-20The NutcrackerDecember 6-23Heart's DesireFebruary 14-16Love's Gentle SpringMarch 28-30Romeo and JulietMay 9-11 Ballet Austin employs 22 full time professional dancers while working with more than 900 students each year in the Ballet Austin Academy.