The Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre
General Information

George ISAAKYAN, General Director of the Theatre
Aleksey MIROSHNICHENKO, Artistic Director of the Ballet

* Company of 65

The Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theater is one of Russia's most distinguished artistic companies. The ballet company became a permanent institution in the mid 1920's

A performance of Giselle opened the first ballet season on February 2, 1926. Since then, the theater has produced a growing number of classical and contemporary works with an emphasis on the operas and ballets of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The magic of Ulanova, Dudinskaya, Sergeyev, Vecheslova and other Kirov artists profoundly influenced the appearance of the nation's third-in-importance ballet company, which shares the standards and the style of the famous Kirov school. The Ballet Company is unique in that it draws all of its dancers from its own school which is the most prestigious training institution for ballet in Russia

The school entered a new phase upon the arrival of the outstanding ballet teachers Ludmila Sakharova, its present artistic director; Yuly Plakht, and Galina Kuznetsova, who represent a new breed of Russian ballet stars, trained in the classical pattern, but who bring together musicality, theatrical passion and superb technical skill.

Former graduates and dancers of Ballet school, whose names are known the world over, include Galina Ragozina-Panova, Lyubov Kunakova, Galina Shlyapina, Nadezhda Pavlova, who went on to become a Prima Ballerina with the Bolshoi Theater, Olga Tchenchikova, Marat Daukayev, Mariinsky stars.

Nowadays, a new generation of artists like Elena Kulagina, the Company's Prima Ballerina, People's Artist of Russia, the winner of the honorary Award “The Best Ballerina of Ireland of 1996-1997 among the touring companies”, Natalia Moiseeva, Yulia Mashkina, Vitaliy Poleschuk have distinguished themselves in national and international ballet competitions and festivals and won international fame.

With a company of 70 dancers, including one People's Artist, 3 Honored Artists of Russia, 4 winners at major international competitions and winners of special awards, their mission is based on a dedication to establishing and maintaining a solid tradition of superior Russian classical dance.

The Company's varied repertoire highlights ballet's most treasured classics, original works and new works of respected choreographers like Ben Stevenson, and the latest co-production of Concert Barocco, a gift of the Balanchine Fund to Perm Ballet.

Some of Ballet soloists are working with the companies in Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Amsterdam, Switzerland and others.

They are now known far beyond Russia's borders. Numerous foreign tours and appearances at international arts festivals in Viena, Bregentz, Spoleto, Seget, Dubrovnik, Servantino in Mexico and others have brought fame and success to the Company.

Repertoire

The Overseas Tours