Artistic Director

In 1988, the Russian choreographer and former soloist of the Bolshoi Ballet, Victor Smirnov-Golovanov, founded the Classical Ballet Theatre, which is known abroad as Moscow City Ballet. The Company"s success, both at home and abroad, makes it one of Russia"s most extensively touring ballet companies.

Considering classical ballet to be an important part of the national heritage of Russia, Victor Smirnov-Golovanov aims to bring it to as wide a public as possible, especially to the new generation of ballet-going youngsters.

Victor Smirnov-Golovanov‘s own choreography, as well as original versions of the classical repertoire, all share a clearly defined style, ideas and choreographic integrity, setting the very highest of performance standards.

The Company‘s unique style is ensured by the unceasing efforts, both in production and rehearsal, by Victor Smirnov-Golovanov as Artistic Director and his wife, Ludmila Nerubashenko, as Chief Ballet Mistress and principal teacher.

The Company‘s first appearance outside Russia was in 1989, in Seoul, Korea. Since then, they have become one of Russia‘s most successful and extensively touring ballet companies. They are in constant demand worldwide and continue to maintain their annual performance commitments in Russia as well as a gruelling foreign schedule.

Some of the Company"s greatest successes have been in the United Kingdom, where it has given more than 2,000 performances since 1991, all under the auspices of Victor Hochhauser. In addition, Moscow City Ballet has appeared in Belgium, Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, the People"s Republic of China, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, the USA and, naturally, in Russia itself. The touring schedule of the Company is always very tight and the tours are planned long ahead.

Moscow City Ballet is renowned for the perfection of its corps de ballet in the best traditions of the Russian school of classical ballet. This is ensured by the unceasing efforts, both in production and rehearsal, of Victor Smirnov-Golovanov and his wife, Lyudmila Nerubaschenko. Smirnov-Golovanov"s own productions, as well as older versions of the classical ballets, all share a clearly defined style and choreographic integrity.

The Company of more than 60 dancers is drawn from graduates of all the finest choreographic academies and schools in Russia and the Ukraine, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Perm, Kiev, Novosibirsk, Ufa and Alma-Ata, as well as guest artists from abroad. Moscow City Ballet appears regularly with its own orchestra and is in constant demand all over the world.

Russian National Theatre hall plan