Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet

The Vaganova Ballet Academy (Russian Академия русского балета им. А. Я. Вагановой ) is the Ballet School of St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre and the Kirov Ballet. It is one of the most famous and influential ballet schools in the world.

History

The school was founded on May 4, 1738 by Empress Anna Ivanovna as Imperial Theatre School. The French ballet master Jean -Baptiste country was the first headmaster. The first student, twelve boys and twelve girls were taught in the Hermitage. The aim of the Tsarina was to transform Russia's first professional dance company, the Imperial Russian Ballet, the precursor of today's Kirov Ballet.

Almost all employed at the school teachers came from Western Europe. The best known among them were Enrico Cecchetti, Pierina Legnani and Marius Petipa.

Since 1836 the school is located in the Rossi Street, St. Petersburg. In the wake of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the school was disbanded by the Russian government and reopened as State Choreografieschule Leningrad.

The most influential teacher of the school was the ballerina Agrippina Vaganova. It began in 1920 as a teacher and in 1934 was director of the Institute Leningrad Choreographic. She is the founder of the Vaganova method.

1956, six years after Waganowas death, the school was renamed in honor of her in Vaganova Ballet Academy.

Presence

Current headmaster of the Vaganova Ballet Academy is Leonid Nadirow, the Artistic Director, the former prima ballerina of the Kirov Ballet Altinaj Aschilmuratowa held.

Students of the Vaganova Ballet Academy must go through before being incorporated rigorous entrance examinations in the course of physical fitness, musicality and talent for movement to be examined. Annually apply more than 3000 children aged 10 years, of which 60 are included. Of which ultimately consist of about 25 students after 8 years of training the graduates test.

At the end of their training the students of the graduating class dance a gala performance. The best students will receive a contract with the Mariinsky Theatre.

Graduates

  • George Balanchine
  • Mikhail Baryshnikov
  • Michel Fokine
  • Tamara Karsavina
  • Jessica Mezey
  • Vaslav Nijinsky
  • Bronislava Nijinska
  • Rudolf Nureyev
  • Anna Pavlova
  • Svetlana Zakharova Yuryevna
  • Galina Ulanova
  • Natalia Makarova
  • Konstantin Sergeyev
  • Vakhtang Chabukiani
  • Diana Vishneva
Mariinsky Ballet Svetlana Zakharova (dancer)
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