Mariinsky Ballet

Mariinsky Ballet
Mariinsky Ballet
General information
Name	Mariinsky Ballet
Previous names	Imperial Russian Ballet (1860–1920); State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Leningrad State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet (1920/1924–1935); Kirov Ballet (1935–1992);
Year founded	Approx. 1740
Principal venue	Mariinsky Theatre; 1 Theatre Square; St Petersburg; Russia
Website	www.mariinsky.ru/en
Artistic staff
Artistic Director	Valery Gergiev; (Mariinsky Theatre)
Deputy Director	Yury Fateyev; Tatiana Bessarabova (assistant);
Reserve Troupe Director	Andrei Bugaev
Other
Parent company	Mariinsky Theatre
Associated schools	Vaganova Ballet Academy
Formation	Principal; First Soloist; Second Soloist; Principal Character Artist; Coryphee; Corps de Ballet; Reserve Troup;

The Mariinsky Ballet (Russian: Балет Мариинского театра) is the resident classical ballet company of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world's leading ballet companies. Internationally in some quarters, the Mariinsky Ballet continues to be known by its former Soviet name the Kirov Ballet. The Mariinsky Ballet is the parent company of the Vaganova Ballet Academy, a leading international ballet school.