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Moscow State Academy of Choreography
View on WikipediaThe Moscow State Academy of Choreography (Russian: Московская государственная академия хореографии), commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools of ballet in the world,[1][2] located in Moscow, Russia. It is the affiliate school of the Bolshoi Ballet. Founded on December 23, 1773[3] as the second ballet school in Russia, it entered into a contract with the Italian teacher-choreographer Filippo Becari, who must was[clarification needed] “the most capable of dancing” children to learn “to dance with all possible precision and to show themselves publicly in all pantomime ballets”.[4]
Key Information
The Bolshoi Ballet receives the majority of its dancers from the academy, as do most other Moscow ballet companies. Numerous choreographers, instructors and graduates of the academy have become renowned, including Olga Lepeshinskaya, Raisa Struchkova, Natalia Bessmertnova, Ekaterina Maximova, Maya Plisetskaya, Nikolai Fadeyechev, Vladimir Vasiliev, Mikhail Lavrovsky, Nikolay Tsiskaridze, to be bestowed a People's Artist of the USSR, "prima ballerina assoluta" and "premier dancer", the ultimate title for a ballet performer of the Soviet Union.
The academy was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for their contributions to promotion of cultural exchange through art between Japan and Russia on December 1, 2020.[5][6]
History
[edit]Bolshoi is the oldest theatrical school in Moscow, founded as an orphanage by order of Catherine II in 1763. It wasn't until 1773 that the first dance classes were taught at the home. Other names the school is known by are: The Bolshoi Academy, The Bolshoi Ballet School, The Moscow Choreographic Institute, The Moscow Ballet School, The Bolshoi Moscow Ballet School and The Bolshoi Theatre Ballet School.
Heads:[7]
- 1773—1777 — Filippo Beccari
- 1778—1783 — Leopold Paradise
- 1783—1805 — Cosimo Morelli (choreographer)
- 1806—1808 — Jean Lamiral
- 1808—1811 — Dominique Lefèvre
- 1811—1839 — Adam Glushkovskiy
- 1839—1846 — Konstantin Bordanov (ru: Богданов, Константин Федорович)
- 1846—1850 — Feodor Manokhin (ru: Манохин, Фёдор Николаевич)
- 1851—1857 — ?
- 1858—1869 — Feodor Manokhin (ru: Манохин, Фёдор Николаевич)
- 1869—1872 — Pierre Frédéric Malavergne
- 1872—1874 — Gustave Legat
- 1874—1883 — Sergey Petrovich Sokolov (ru: Соколов, Сергей Петрович)
- 1883—1898 — Aleksey Bogdanov (ru: Богданов, Алексей Николаевич)
- 1898—1902 — Vasiliy Geltser (ru: Гельцер, Василий Федорович)
- 1902—1907 — Alexander Alexeyevich Gorsky
- 1907—1917 — Vasily Tikhomirov (ru: Тихомиров, Василий Дмитриевич)
- 1917—1924 — Alexander Alexeyevich Gorsky
- 1924 — 1931 — ?
- 1931—1936 — Viktor Aleksandrovich Semeonov (ru: Семёнов, Виктор Александрович)
- 1937—1941 — Pyotr Gusev
- 1942—1945 — Nikolay Ivanovich Tarasov (ru: Тарасов, Николай Иванович)
- 1945—1947 — Rostislav Zakharov
- 1948—1953 — Leonid Lavrovsky
- 1953—1954 — Nikolay Ivanovich Tarasov
- 1954—1958 — Michail Gabovich (ru: Габович, Михаил Маркович)
- 1959—1964 — Yuriy Kondratov (ru: Кондратов, Юрий Григорьевич)
- 1960—2001 — Sofia Golovkina (ru: Головкина, Софья Николаевна)
- 1964—1967 — Leonid Lavrovsky
- 1968—1972 — Aleksey Yermolayev
- 1973—1987 — Maksim Martirosian (ru: Мартиросян, Максим Саакович)
- 1988—1993 — Igor Uksusnikov (ru: Уксусников, Игорь Валентинович)
- 2001—2002 — Boris Akimov (ru: Акимов, Борис Борисович)
- 2002—2024 — Marina Leonova (ru: Леонова, Марина Константиновна)
- 2024 — Svetlana Zakharova[8]
Method and education
[edit]The Bolshoi's method of teaching is founded on a Russian training curriculum that is coordinated to the student's ability. This curriculum, commonly known as Vaganova method, is widely adopted by ballet schools around the world. The curriculum includes ballet technique, pointe work, center work, repertoire, pas de deux, jazz, character dance, and historical dance.
Facilities
[edit]Amenities at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy include twenty large studios with a professional non-slip dance floor. High ceilings make it possible to offer pas de deux classes, and two levels of ballet barres are provided for young children and adults.
Alumni
[edit]The Bolshoi is the school from which the Bolshoi Ballet gets the majority of its dancers, as well as most other Moscow ballet companies. The academy has graduated a long list of acclaimed ballerinas and danseurs, including:
- Maria Alexandrova
- Alexander Andrianov
- Nina Ananiashvili
- Dmitry Belogolovtsev
- Natalia Bessmertnova
- Margarita Drozdova
- Nikolai Fadeyechev
- Sergei Filin
- Yekaterina Geltzer
- Nadezhda Gracheva
- Dmitry Gudanov
- Nina Kaptsova
- Maria Kochetkova
- Marina Kondratyeva
- Ekaterina Krysanova
- Mikhail Lavrovsky
- Olga Lepeshinskaya
- Ilze Liepa
- Andris Liepa
- Maris Liepa
- Svetlana Lunkina
- Vladimir Malakhov
- Xenia Makletzova
- Ekaterina Maximova
- Elina Melnichenko
- Asaf Messerer
- Alla Mikhalchenko
- Igor Moiseyev
- Mikhail Mordkin
- Irek Mukhamedov
- Anastasia Nabokina
- Natalia Osipova
- Maya Plisetskaya
- Alexander Plisetski
- Polina Semionova
- Ruslan Skvortsov
- Nina Sorokina
- Galina Stepanenko
- Raisa Struchkova
- Vasily Tikhomirov
- Nikolai Tsiskaridze
- Vladimir Vasiliev
- Andrey Uvarov
Summer intensive
[edit]The academy partners with the Russian American Foundation to hold annual summer intensives at Lincoln Center in New York City and in Middlebury, CT.
Former names
[edit]Throughout its history, the school has changed its name several times. Below is a table about the history of its former names.
| Period | Name in Russian | Name in English |
|---|---|---|
| 1773-1806 | Классы театрального танцевания | Theatrical dance classes |
| 1806-1920 | Московское императорское училище | Moscow Imperial School |
| 1920-1931 | Государственный московский балетный техникум при ГАБТ | State Moscow Ballet College at the Bolshoi Theater |
| 1937-1961 | Московское академическое училище (МАХУ) | Choreographic School of the Bolshoi Theater |
| 1961-1987 | Московский государственный хореографический (институт с сохранением при нём МАХУ) | Moscow State Choreographic Institute (with the preservation of MAKhU) |
| 1987- | Московская государственная академия хореографии (МГАХ) | Moscow State Academy of Choreography |
References
[edit]- ^ Kelly, David (2008-10-05). "Giant leap for a boy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- ^ "Московская государственная академия хореографии". Archived from the original on 2013-04-05. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- ^ "История". balletacademy.ru. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ^ Entry dated December 23, 1773 [On the invitation of Filippo Becari] // CIAM. F. 127. Op. 1. Unit hr. 12. L. 72-72 vol.
- ^ Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2020 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- ^ Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2020 (Groups) | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- ^ The Moscow State Academy of Choreography Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Народная артистка Российской Федерации Светлана Захарова назначена исполняющим обязанности ректора Московской государственной академии хореографии". balletacademy.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Russian)
- The Moscow State Academy of Choreography page at UNESCO
- Summer Intensive in New York City
Moscow State Academy of Choreography
View on GrokipediaOverview
Establishment and Affiliations
The Moscow State Academy of Choreography, commonly known as the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, traces its origins to December 23, 1773, when it was established as part of the Moscow Foundling Home under a decree by Catherine the Great introducing dancing classes to the orphanage's curriculum.[1] Over time, it evolved from these initial classes into a dedicated institution for ballet training, becoming the Moscow Ballet School in 1784 and later the Moscow Imperial Theater School in 1806, with a focus on developing Russian theater and ballet arts.[1] Today, it operates as a public state academy, designated in 2016 as an Especially Valuable Cultural Heritage Site of the Russian Federation.[5] Located in central Moscow, Russia, at 2nd Frunzenskaya Street since 1967, the academy's coordinates are 55°43′18″N 37°34′51″E.[1] As Russia's oldest theater arts educational institution, it maintains a close affiliation with the Bolshoi Theatre, serving as its primary training ground and supplying the majority of dancers to the renowned ballet company.[1] The academy is currently led by Rector Svetlana Zakharova, a People's Artist of Russia and prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre, who was appointed in September 2024 and continues in the role as of 2025.[4][6] It enrolls approximately 200 students across its programs, fostering a selective environment for intensive ballet education.[7] The official website provides further details and contact information at https://en.balletacademy.ru/.[](https://en.balletacademy.ru/)Reputation and Global Impact
The Moscow State Academy of Choreography, commonly known as the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, is recognized as one of the world's oldest and most prestigious ballet institutions, founded in 1773 and often ranked alongside the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet as a cornerstone of classical dance training.[1][8] Its enduring prestige stems from a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes technical precision, dramatic expression, and artistic depth, setting global benchmarks for professional ballet education.[1] The academy's inclusion in Russia's list of particularly valuable cultural heritage sites underscores its national and international significance.[3] The institution has received notable awards for its contributions to ballet and cultural exchange, including the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation in 2020 for promoting artistic ties between Japan and Russia, and a Gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation in 2023.[9] It also earned the Golden Muse Statuette in 2018 for excellence in arts education.[1] Students from the academy have amassed over 750 competitive awards at international ballet contests since 1947, with more than 400 prizes in the last two decades alone, including 12 Grand Prix and 138 gold medals, highlighting its competitive edge.[10][1] In QS World University Rankings by Subject for Performing Arts, it placed in the 51-100 band in 2019, affirming its academic standing.[8] The academy celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2023, marking a milestone in its contributions to global ballet heritage.[4] The academy's global impact is evident in its influence on classical ballet standards through the dissemination of the Moscow method, which prioritizes expressive storytelling and robust technique, shaping dance practices in countries such as the United States, Japan, Korea, Finland, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria.[1] This method has contributed to the evolution of international ballet repertoires and training systems, with academy-trained pedagogues establishing branches and programs worldwide.[1] It enrolls students drawn from over 20 countries, fostering cross-cultural exchange through master classes and collaborative initiatives since 2007.[11][1][12] Media portrayals have further amplified its legacy, with documentaries such as "The Bolshoi Ballet Academy" (2018) and "Inside Russia's Elite Ballet Academy: The Making of Ballerinas" (2025) exploring the institution's demanding environment and cultural role.[13][14] Books on Russian ballet history often reference its foundational contributions, emphasizing its role in preserving and innovating classical traditions.[1] Recent achievements include expansions to regional branches in Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, and Kemerovo since 2019, and sustained participation in global events like the 2025 Sochi festival and the Yuri Grigorovich International Competition, demonstrating resilience amid geopolitical challenges.[1][10]History
Founding and Imperial Era
The Moscow State Academy of Choreography traces its origins to the Moscow Foundling Home, established in 1763 by decree of Empress Catherine the Great to provide education and vocational training for orphans.[1] In 1773, Catherine issued another decree introducing the first dance classes at the institution, marking the formal beginning of ballet education in Moscow and creating the second ballet school in Russia after St. Petersburg's.[1] Under the oversight of Chief Curator Ivan Ivanovich Betskoi, Italian ballet master Filippo Beccari was hired as the inaugural dance teacher, instructing 26 girls and 28 boys in four-hour sessions four times a week.[1] The curriculum drew heavily from French and Italian ballet traditions, emphasizing classical techniques imported by European masters to prepare pupils for theatrical performances.[1] By 1779, the first cohort of students graduated, and in 1784, the dance program came under the supervision of the Petrovsky Theatre, where pupils began performing on stage.[1] The school's initial focus remained on training orphans as performers for imperial theaters, fostering a pipeline of talent for Moscow's burgeoning cultural scene.[1] In 1806, under Emperor Alexander I, the institution was reorganized and renamed the Moscow Imperial Theater School, placing it under the Imperial Theaters Office and expanding its scope to include opera, drama, and ballet training.[1] This period saw the integration of Russian educators, such as Adam Pavlovich Glushkovsky, who became head of the ballet department in 1812 and evacuated the school to safety just before Napoleon's invasion of Moscow, ensuring its survival amid the ensuing fire and chaos that disrupted operations.[15] The school's growth accelerated with the opening of the Bolshoi Theatre in 1825, which absorbed the ballet troupe from the predecessor Petrovsky Theatre and relied on the Imperial School as its primary training ground, solidifying the institution's role in Russian ballet development.[16] Glushkovsky, influenced by French choreographer Charles Didelot, introduced elements of Russian folk dance into the curriculum, blending them with classical forms to create a distinctly national style.[1] Throughout the imperial era, the school retained variations of its name, such as the Moscow Imperial School of Theatrical Arts, until 1917, maintaining its status as a cornerstone of elite ballet education under tsarist patronage.[1]Soviet Period and Modern Developments
Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Moscow Imperial Theater School was integrated into the Soviet state's centralized arts education system, reflecting the Bolshevik emphasis on transforming cultural institutions to serve proletarian ideals. In 1920, it was renamed the State Moscow Ballet College at the Bolshoi Theater, marking its shift from imperial patronage to state control under the People's Commissariat for Enlightenment.[17][18] During the 1930s, the institution underwent significant reforms aligned with Stalinist cultural policies, incorporating ideological training to promote socialist realism in the arts while preserving classical ballet techniques. This period saw the school emphasize the education of dancers from working-class backgrounds, with curricula adapted to foster themes of collective progress and national pride, though classical traditions remained central to avoid complete rupture with pre-revolutionary heritage.[19][20] The academy's evolution continued through the mid-20th century. In 1961, it was redesignated the Moscow Academic Choreographic School, expanding its scope to include higher education in choreography while maintaining its preparatory college and relocating to a new modern facility in 1968.[16][21] This renaming highlighted its elevated status within the Soviet educational framework, with a focus on training elite artists for exportable cultural diplomacy. In 1995, the college and institute were merged into the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, granting formal academy status amid Russia's post-Soviet transition to a market economy and enabling greater autonomy and international partnerships while retaining state funding.[22][1] The academy's nomenclature reflects its historical adaptations to political contexts, as summarized in the following table:| Period | Name |
|---|---|
| 1773–1806 | Theatrical Dance Classes at Moscow Foundling Home |
| 1806–1920 | Moscow Imperial Theater School |
| 1920–1961 | State Moscow Ballet College at the Bolshoi Theater |
| 1961–1995 | Moscow Academic Choreographic School |
| 1995–present | Moscow State Academy of Choreography |

