Guillem has been told to rest following her ankle injury

The Royal Ballet star pulled out of her week-long Stories of Love and Passion season after injuring the upper ankle of her left foot in rehearsal.

She initially cancelled three of her London performances, but has since been told to rest for three weeks.

The 39-year-old French ballerina said: "I am very upset and disappointed about the cancellation."

'Huge disappointment'

"I am not a dancer prone to injury and it is very rare for me to be off," she said.

"This season has been planned since November and I was looking forward to presenting it at the Royal Opera House, and to dancing for everyone."

Victor and Lilian Hochhauser, who were staging the show, said it was "a huge disappointment".

"In the 50 years we have been involved in the arts, this is the first time that we have had to cancel a major season," they said.

"We apologise most sincerely to the thousands of patrons who have bought tickets for this unique event."

Principal guest

Guillem was to have danced the roles of Masha in MacMillan's Winter Dreams and the title role in Marguerite and Armand.

She had invited Isabelle Ciaravola from the Paris Opera Ballet to dance the lead in the third ballet, Carmen Suite.

The Royal Opera House said it would refund tickets, which cost up to �75 each.