Getting schooled in Kirov and Bolshoi ballet.

As the performance date for The Tchaikovsky Ballet's production of Sleeping Beauty draws near everyone in the communications department is hard at work designing and implementing creative and attractive promotions to encourage audiences of all ages to come out and see the show.

After being asked to write the press release for the upcoming performance I decided to do some research. What struck me about The Tchaikovsky Ballet or more formally, The Perm Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre, during my search was their association with the Mariinsky theatre and the Kirov school.

This was interesting to me because I hadn't understood the impact or the significance of the Kirov school on Russian ballet. What also caught my attention was the mention of another school, the Bolshoi, which appeared every now-and-then, opposite the Kirov, in several articles I read. At this point I understood that Kirov and Bolshoi were terms used to describe two distinct companies, dance styles, and schools but what I hadn't understood was the difference between them and their significance to Russian Ballet so I decided to dig deeper and this is what I found....

The Kirov school was actually Russia's first school for ballet and was founded in 1738, in St. Petersburg. The school was founded with the intent of becoming the first in the nation to teach ballet in a country whose dance was already rich in folk traditions. In the first year the school had 24 students, 12 boys and 12 girls. The students were the children of palace servants whose talent for dance was said to be above that of the professional dancers in the Czars court.

Students of the Kirov school were trained in French and Italian styles as they were instructed by choreographers from across Europe. The Mariinsky Ballet/Kirov Ballet later grew out of the school and was founded in 1740, making it the second oldest ballet company in the world behind Paris Opera. During the Russian Revolution both the school and the company closed as they were seen as signs of Russian imperialism. The company and school later reopened under different names and were renamed again in 1934 after Bolshevik revolutionary Sergey Kirov was assassinated.

The Bolshoi Ballet, in contrast, was founded in 1776 and grew out of a dancing school, held in the Moscow Orphanage. The school was actually founded in 1773. The company however did not begin to attract the attention of the ballet world, to the extent that it holds today, until 1918, when Moscow became the capital of Russia. It's cultural prestige and the money it earned is also said to have helped it become well known in the West. The word “Bolshoi” is actually Russian for “grand” or “large” and is also an underlying characteristic of the company’s dance style, which said to be grand or triumphant.

The style is also said to be dramatic or theatrical as the Bolshoi often incorporate dramatic movements into their dancing. Feeling that the acting and staging of the ballet were just as important as the dancing the Bolshoi became known for their innovative stage designs and music as well as they're evolving approach to the choreography and the presentation of dance.

On the other hand the style associated with the Kirov school was described as refined and controlled. The dancers were known for their precision and unwavering dedication to preservation of the classical ballet style. While there’s a theatrical element to the ballet it’s not carried out in a way similar to that of the Bolshoi. Instead the Kirov work under the Stanislavski method of acting bringing their emotions into their dance. Their style is also said to be more restrained and conservative than that of the Bolshoi.

Although historically there has been a recognizable difference in styles between the schools those differences are less evident today as the Kirov has become more dynamic. Now that I have uncovered and shared my understandings of the significance and differences between the Kirov and Bolshoi ballets with you. It is my hope that audiences will have a better understanding of the prestige tied to The Tchaikovsky Ballet. It is also my hope that audiences will be able to appreciate and identify some of the schools and styles that ultimately made Russian Ballet.

The Tchaikovsky Ballet, is one of Russia's most distinguished artistic companies. The Ballet theatre which was founded in 1920 presented its first season in 1926. The company has maintained strong ties and has been greatly influenced by the Mariinsky/Kirov Opera and Ballet borrowing from its standards and traditions. The company is different in that it draws all its dancers from its school, The Perm State Ballet, one of the most prestigious training institutions for ballet in Russia as well as the third largest classical company in the country. The Tchaikovsky Ballet will present it's critically acclaimed production of Sleeping Beauty at the Detroit Opera House, March 26-28. The company will be performing to Tchaikovsky's whimsical score and Marius Petipa's original choreography.

• Orange Coast Magazine. "Spotlight:Ballet". Aug 1989. pg 48. Allard, Maurice; Thomas, Diane. Google Books.
• Dance Magazine. "What's the Difference between Russian and American Dancers". Perron, Wendy. July 6th, 2009.
• LA Times. "The Russians Are Back, The Russians Are Back". Segal, Lewis. July 30th, 2000
• Wikipedia. Kirov Ballet. 2/17/10
• Wikipedia. Bolshoi Ballet. 2/17/10
• Bolshoi Ballet. Encyclopedia.com. 6th Edition. 2008. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Bolshoi_Ballet.aspx
• Bravo: The official Magazine of the Detroit Opera House. "History of Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre". Spring 2010. pg 14.