Bolshoi Ballet

About

The Bolshoi Ballet, founded in 1776 by Russian Prince Urusov and English theater entrepreneur Michael Maddox, is considered to be one of the oldest and most exalted ballet companies in the world. The company resides in Russia's world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre located in Moscow's Theatre Square and has performed there since the ballet inaugurated the building in 1825. Aside from performing the premier of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake in 1877, the Bolshoi Ballet became best known in the West after the death of Josef Stalin - when the ballet was allowed to tour internationally - significantly raising Russia's cultural prestige around the world as a result. The Bolshoi Ballet is still considered one of the world's most iconic ballet companies, and its performances are not to be missed.