Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet
Location
Saint Petersburg Russia
Coordinates	59°55′49″N 30°20′09″E / 59.9303°N 30.3358°E / 59.9303; 30.3358
Information
Type	Ballet school
Established	May 4, 1738 (1738-05-04)
Campus type	Urban
Website	https://vaganovaacademy.ru/

The Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet is a famous school for classical ballet in St Petersburg, Russia. It started way back in 1738. At first, it was called the Imperial Ballet School. Later, after the Soviet Union was formed, it became the Leningrad State Choreographic Institute.

In 1957, the school was renamed to honor a very important teacher named Agrippina Vaganova. She created a special way of teaching ballet, called the Vaganova method. This method has been used at the school since the late 1920s. Many top ballet schools around the world now use parts of her training method.

The Vaganova Academy is closely linked to the Mariinsky Ballet. This is one of the world's best ballet companies. Students from the Vaganova Academy often go on to dance with famous ballet groups. Some of these include the Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre.

History of the Ballet School

The school began on May 4, 1738. It was started by Empress Anna and was called the Imperial Theatrical School. A French Ballet Master named Jean-Baptiste Landé was its first director. The very first classes were held in empty rooms at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. There were twelve boys and twelve girls in the first group of students.

2 Rossi Street at the start of the 20th century

Most of the early teachers at the school came from Western Europe. These included Franz Hilferding and Giovanni Canzianni. The first Russian teacher to join the school was Ivan Valberg. As ballet grew popular in Europe, many other teachers and methods influenced the school. Important teachers like Christian Johansson and Italian methods from Enrico Cecchetti helped shape the training. Other famous dancers and ballet masters from the 1800s also taught there. These included Charles Didelot, Jules Perrot, Marius Petipa, and Mikhail Fokine.

Since 1836, the school has been located at 2 Rossi Street in St. Petersburg. After 1924, St. Petersburg was known as Leningrad. The original Imperial Ballet School was closed by the new Soviet government. But it soon reopened in the same place as the Leningrad State Choreographic School. The Imperial Russian Ballet company also changed. It became the Soviet Ballet. Later, it was renamed the Kirov Ballet in 1934. Today, the company is officially called the Mariinsky Ballet, but many people still call it the Kirov Ballet.

Agrippina Vaganova's Influence

Agrippina Vaganova helped create modern Russian ballet. She finished her studies at the Imperial Ballet School in 1897. She danced with the Imperial Ballet for a while. After the October Revolution, she stopped dancing to focus on teaching.

The Soviet government had not yet reopened the school. So, Vaganova started teaching at a private school called the School of Russian Ballet. In 1920, she joined the new Leningrad State Choreographic School. Vaganova wrote a very important book called The Principles of Classical Dance. This book explains the special training system she developed. The school has had a few different names, but today it is officially known as the Vaganova Ballet Academy in English-speaking countries.

The Academy Today

What is the Vaganova Academy Like Now?

The Vaganova Ballet Academy is over 275 years old. Many people think it is where modern ballet began. The Academy currently has more than 300 students. The head of the academy is Nikolay Tsiskaridze. The Artistic Director, who guides the artistic side, is Zhanna Ayupova.

How to Audition for the School

Auditions to get into the school happen in June. Children must be at least 10 years old to try out. It is a very competitive process.

What Students Learn During Training

All students at the school start with a full program. This includes dance training and regular secondary school subjects. They also learn French language and take piano lessons. As students get older, their program becomes more intense. New subjects are added as they become more skilled. Students are tested at the end of each school year. A decision is made about whether they can move to the next grade. Fewer spots are available in the higher grades.

Famous Graduates of Vaganova Academy

Images for kids

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  Medium close-up of the main entryway.

See also

In Spanish: Academia Vaganova de Ballet para niños