The history of dance in Russia goes back to 1738 and has brought forth uncounted generations of wonderful dancers. From 1977 on, the ballet was directed by Oleg Vinogradov, a graduate of the important Vaganova school of Leningrad and an active member of the Kirov troupe. His artistic work is characterised by both tradition and innovation, two aspects that have highly influenced today’s Kirov Ballet. This first-ever studio recording of the world-famous Kirov Ballet, made by the award-winning director Thomas Grimm at the Danmarks Radio Århus Dance Studio, showcases highlights from their repertoire, both classic and contemporary, that line up like pearls on a string: „Chopiniana“, a piece by Mikhail Fokine to music by Frédéric Chopin, followed by „Petrushka“, a masterpiece of the 20th-century ballet repertoire created by Stravinsky, the piece „Adagio“, based on Samuel Barber’s „Adagio for Strings“, the famous pas de deux from Adolphe Adam’s classic ballet „Le Corsaire“, the pas de six from the ballet „Markitenka“ and finally the Grand pas from Marius Petipa’s ballet „Paquita“.