Russian National Ballet
Saint Petersburg is the birthplace of Russian ballet: an emblematic symbol of the country's culture and a dance that has infiltrated countries the world over.
This dance had already been developed previously in Italy, specifically during the Renaissance, an age when dance experienced a progressive development alongside other arts, such as painting and sculpture.
Origins of Russian Ballet
Ballet originated in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries, but it wasn't until Peter the Great came into power in the 17th century and began opening the Russian Empire up to Western culture and influence that ballet became known in the country, with the first performance taking place in 1673. Intrinsically linked to the political, social and cultural changes that were taking place at the time, the dance's arrival in Russia marks a key point in the country's history.
Thanks to patronage by the tsars and the influence of ballet teachers from France and Italy, ballet quickly became the most popular form of entertainment of the Russian nobility. Under the orders of Catherine the Great, an Imperial ballet troupe was established in St Petersburg in 1783, and it was moved to the famous Mariinsky Theatre in 1886.
While the renowned Bolshoi Ballet was founded in Moscow in 1776, making it one of the oldest ballet companies in the world, St Petersburg remained the "ballet capital" of Russia with its Imperial Russian Ballet, these days known as the Mariinsky Ballet.
A new dance
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the new wave spreading to the east across the continent, a new way of interpreting dance also took to the stage.
Choreographers opted for more fluid movements and reinterpreted Europe's most classical dances.
During these years, the main aims of ballet were the opening, reinterpretation and improvement of the practice of dance, ideas that make the dance the main artistic representation of the whole nation.
A theatre with history
One of the most important monuments in St Petersburg is the Mariinsky Theatre, home of the Russian Ballet and the headquarters of one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world.
The historical centre of theatre, dance and opera in Russia, St Peterburg is like Paris, Vienna and Rome: one of the most important cultural heritage cities in all of Europe.
As well as its own ballet company, the Mariinsky Theatre also has its own orchestra, one of the oldest musical institutions in all of Russia.
Russian Ballet in St Petersburg
To truly get a feel for the internationally acclaimed Russian ballet, the best thing to do is to attend a performance during your trip to Saint Petersburg. Experience this important cultural show at one of the city's most famous theatres!
