The “Russian National Ballet” theatre was founded with the help and support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.  The necessity to have a young, promising and vibrant theatre with a unique potential in both kinds of dance – Classical and Modern – was the main reason for its foundation.

“Talent and Devotion to Art” is its major principal. This is supported by the outstanding “Talent” and “Devotion” of the celebrated masters of the Russian ballet, such as, Peoples Artist of the USSR, Professor Igor Moiseev, Peoples Artist of Russia Professor

R. Struchkova, Peoples Artist of USSR M. Lavrovsky, Peoples Artist of USSR Y. Vladimirov and others.

The “Russian National Ballet” theatre has given Russian ballet a new lease of life. The theatre’s repertoire includes not only classical performances such as “Swan Lake”, “Nutcracker”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Scotland Suite”, “Don Quixote”, “Romeo and Juliette”, “Giselle” and “Gala Concert” but also modern ballets to the music of Mozart, Bach, Ravel and others.

The company numbers more than 80 ballet dancers, and is the result of the pain staking search for dedicated and talented dancers. A great effort has gone into providing the correct atmosphere and conditions, in which to develop and perfect the artists mastery and creative search.

The company’s main soloists are: Honoured Artist of Russia O. Pavlova and Prize winners of International ballet contests M. Romanov, K. Pavinskaya, N. Ivanova, D. Golubev J. Ussin, V. Zemlyakova, K. Shalin, E. Chalapina and others.

The General Director of the theatre is the Honoured Artist of Russia and soloist of the Bolshoi theatre of Russia, Vladimir Moiseev. The Ballets Artistic Director is the Honoured Artist of Russia, Evgeny Amosov.

The major creative principal directions of the theatre is, not only the careful preservation of the Russian Classical ballet school, but also the development of the never ending search for new forms of choreographic expressiveness, discovering new models in direction and the opportunities of dance.

“Ballet is the art of the young” – this well-known phrase for the majority of classical dance companies is only a striking figure of speech, rather than reality and everyday practice. This is absolutely true of the “Russian National Ballet” theatre as its dancers’ ages’ range from 17 to 25. Nevertheless, despite their youth, many of them have already won international recognition: they are winners of prestigious competitions Nadezhda Ivanova, Maxim Romanov, Kristina Pavinskaya, Veronica Zemliakova, Andrey Shalin et al.

All the other artists are also very talented and professional, as the “Russian National Ballet” theatre was designed and set up as an ensemble of soloists, with bright individuality and a wide range of role possibilities. They have mastered equally well the art of classical, character and modern dance and even light jazz. Still it is the classical dance that is the cornerstone of the theatre.

This company has brought together pupils from two of the strongest Russian ballet schools – Moscow and Perm, traditionally famous for their emotional, artistic and expressive dancing. Before joining the company most of the artists had already had the experience of working with the leading ballet companies of Russia – in such cities as Moscow, Perm, Ekaterinburg, Samara and Novosibirsk.

The “Russian National Ballet” theatre company was brought together and inspired for serious work by its leaders: General Director – Honoured artist of Russia, Vladimir Moiseev soloist of the Bolshoi theatre and grandson of Igor Moiseev the legendary Russian ballet-master. Together with Artistic Director – Honoured artist of Russia, Evgeny Amosov. They used to study together at Moscow choreography school, but then their ways parted. Many years later, having acquired substantial stage dancing experience, having toured the world and seen lots of both Russian and foreign companies perform, each of them separately came to the idea of setting up his own dancing company. After a chance meeting where it turned out that they both shared the same creative principles, attitudes and aspirations they joined their efforts.

The repertoire of the “Russian National Ballet” theatre from the very beginning was developed along two main lines. One of them is the classical ballet as it is. The first productions to be staged were three ballets by P.I. Tchaikovsky that are viewed by the company management as a cornerstone for further shaping of the company. In their approach to the classical heritage V. Moiseev and E. Amosov prefer to avoid any extremes. On the one hand, they do not follow the modern fashion of artistic restoration, i.e. they do not try to accurately copy the choreography of the first classical ballet performances. On the other hand, they are not keen on risky experiments of modernizing classics. At the same time they reserve the right for their own choreographic interpretation of ballets and offer to the audience their own versions of the famous classic productions – more compact, dynamic and corresponding to the fast rhythms of the present day.

The second direction in which the “Russian National Ballet” theatre is developing is a long-term prospect. It is to a large extent based on the creative method of Igor Moiseev whose innovative approach consisted of bringing folk dance up to the level of academic dancing. Relying on this principle, Moiseev’s grandson together with his colleague came to the idea of staging original ballets based on the national folklore of different peoples. These ballets will be produced by choreographers of other countries who are better capable of feeling and most adequately translating the spirit of their people, local style and colour into the language of classical dance. Thus, the repertoire of the theatre will be gradually shaped into a kind of mosaic, reflecting the search and achievements of modern international choreographic thought.

“Entering the new century and the new millennium, we take from the past the great traditions of the Russian ballet and shape the future relying on their basis. We hope that the audience which sees our versions of classical ballets will not only get esthetic pleasure, but also food for thought and will be stimulated to ponder on the deep psychological, cultural and spiritual issues”.

Vladimir Moiseev (General Director)
Honoured Artist of Russia

“We would like to teach our young artists the same self-sacrificing devotion to ballet that was an indispensable part of our generation’s up-bringing, to inculcate in them a striving for perfection, a taste for creative search and professionalism, without which it is impossible to be up to the mark in our beautiful art”.