Mariinsky Ballet

About

The Mariinsky Ballet is a classical ballet based in St. Petersburg, Russia and is permanently located to the city's famed Mariinsky Theatre. Known originally as the Imperial Russian Ballet since it was founded in the 18th Century, the ballet became internationally known as the Kirov Ballet during Soviet control of Russia for much of the 20th Century. Although the ballet is still widely known as the Kirov when travelling internationally, visitors to the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg will recognize the ballet simply as the Mariinsky Ballet. With an extensive repertoire of works for ballet by composers throughout the world, and a performance history that spans nearly three centuries, the Mariinsky Ballet still is considered to be one of the greatest ballets in St. Petersburg if not the world.