Why is Russian ballet the BEST in the world?

Ballet as a particular genre

Matilda Kshesinskaya (right) and Nikolai Solyannikov (left) in Marius Petipa's ballet “Flora's Awakening”.

Ballet appeared in Italy in the 16th century, later in France, but it was in Russia that it was formed as a canonical genre. The first ballet performance took place there in 1672 at the court of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and dance on stage became fashionable under Peter the Great along with other European trends.

The real bloom of ballet art came in the 19th century, when choreographers Charles Didlo and Marius Petipa began to work in the Imperial Theaters of St. Petersburg, creating their own productions based on the national Russian style. 

Russian ballet school

Class of the Imperial Ballet School

Russia has developed a special system of training that combines technical virtuosity with profound dramaturgy. Russian dancers don't just dance – they try to live each role just as dramatic theater actors do.  

The oldest schools of Russian ballet are the ‘Vaganova’ Academy of Russian Ballet (since 1738) and Moscow State Academy of Choreography (since 1773). Children are admitted there from 9-10 years old and classes include not only dancing, but also the study of music, art history and acting. 

The names of Russian dancers from the academies are known all over the world, from Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya to Mikhail Baryshnikov. Russian ballet tours in any country always become an important cultural event.  

Ballet with Russian flavor

Tamara Karsavina and Adolf Bolm in Igor Stravinsky's ballet 'The Firebird'

Russian ballet is closely connected with the national culture. In their productions, choreographers often turn to Russian fairy tales, such as ‘The Firebird’, ‘Petrushka’, ‘The Stone Flower’ and ‘The Snow Maiden’. Productions by Russian choreographers have always been innovative, but, at the same time, retain a connection with classical traditions.

Productions for the ages

A scene from Pyotr Tchaikovsky's ballet “The Nutcracker” staged by the St. Petersburg Theater.

In addition to talented artists and choreographers, the works of Pyotr Tchaikovsky play a special role in classical ballet. His music became the basis for masterpieces that people far from the world of dance know – ‘Swan Lake’, ‘The Nutcracker’, ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ and other works are still staged all over the world today. 

Global recognition

The beginning of the 20th century was a new stage both in the history of Russian ballet and its promotion around the world. Sergei Diaghilev's ‘Russian Seasons’ rattled Europe and North America. The likes ofAnna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karsavina, accompanied by modernist choreography and scenography, made an incredible impression on the public. After the “seasons” ended, Mikhail Mordkin (American Ballet Theater) and George Balanchine (New York City Ballet) founded their own ballet companies in New York. And some English and American dancers even changed their names to Russian to become more popular. https://www.gw2ru.com/arts/2471-ballet-dancers-russian-names  

Triumphal procession

Matthew Golding as Onegin, Natalia Osipova as Tatiana and Bennet Gartside as Prince Gremin with artists of the company in the Royal Ballet's production of John Cranko's Onegin at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London.

Russian ballet dancers still shine on world stages today, confirming their status as the best in the world. Primas of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theaters, such as Svetlana Zakharova and Evgenia Obraztsova, Diana Vishneva and Viktoria Tereshkina, have become benchmarks for young dancers. Russian dancers, meanwhile, like Natalia Osipova, Ivan Vasiliev, Sergei Polunin and many others, perform with the leading ballet companies in Paris, London, New York and Milan. 

Ballet schools also have their branches abroad: For example, the Bolshoi Ballet School has been operating in Brazil since 2000 and has helped to train many international stars.