Bolshoi Ballet and Theatre Company
Russian, 1776-
Place FoundedMoscow, Russia, Europe
The Bolshoi Theatre is a theatre and opera company in Moscow, Russia, which gives performances of ballet and opera. The company was founded in 1776 by Prince Peter Urussov and Michael Maddox. The Bolshoi has been associated from its beginnings with ballet, and is home to the Bolshoi Ballet troupe. Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theatre on Saturday, March 4, 1877. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world. It is by far the world's biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers. The theatre is the parent company of The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, a world-famous leading school of ballet