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Kirov Ballet from Imperial Pride to Russian Eloquence

Few ballet companies can lay claim to staging and perfecting the great works of dance, introducing the world to the greatest performers, Balanchine, Nureyev and Baryshnikov, and taking the name of a Bolshevik revolutionary, but the Kirov Ballet is the company that can claim these and many other accolades.

First, the company was a staging ground for the Imperial Ballet that entertained the czars of Russia. After the revolution and death of Sergei Kirov, the Bolshevik who posed a threat to Stalin, the company was renamed in his honor. During the time of the czar’s rule, the great Russian choreographer Marius Petipa staged what today are still the pinnacle of success in the world of ballet. Performances such as Giselle, Swan Lake and original presentation of Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker were first seen as true masterpieces and performed by this legendary company.

Today the company has changed back to its pre-communist title of The Mariinsky Ballet and can still be witnessed in St Petersburg under this name. Although the Bolshoi Ballet is considered by many as the achievement of ballet success in Russian dance, the Kirov still holds dear to those who love this ageless art form.

For those who love this timeless form of art, St. Petersburg has some of the finest accommodations that can be had at every price level. The Mariinsky Theater has performances of ballet and opera every month of the year at affordable prices. Follow the St. Petersburg hotel link on this page for the best rates.

So if you are one who loves art that was made in a time where art was the goal, than The Kirov Ballet is definitely a company you should visit soon. The performances are legendary and full of intrigue and should be experienced in the place that is home to the performances that have set the standard for modern day dance.

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