"Her complexion was as fine as the petal of a rose and her eyes as blue as the deepest lake, but just like everyone else down there, she had no feet, her body ended in a fishtail."

Thus begins "The Little Mermaid," by Hans Christian Andersen.

Written in 1836, the classic was filmed by Disney in 1989, bringing the story of the littlest mermaid to the mainstream.

From the book to the movie to the Covington stage, the Covington Regional Ballet will present the well-loved story this weekend at Porter Memorial Hall in Newton High School. The ballet tells the story of the undersea adventures of a mermaid, who barters with a sea witch for legs in order to become human and fight for the love of a prince.

Sponsored by The Arnold Fund, The James Hyde Porter Trust, Mainstream Dance and the Arts Association in Newton County, the ballet will be performed at 7 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $5 for students and children.