The Kirov Ballet is basically the same thing as the Mariinsky Ballet. Like many other institutions and cities in Russia, the name of the ballet was changed after the revolution, then changed back to its original name after the fall of communism. However, since the ballet company was known as the "Kirov" for most of the 20th century, the company usually still tours using that name.

The Mariinsky Theater and ballet company has roots going back to the time of the Tsars. After the revolution of 1917, the communists wanted to erase all odes to the Tsars, and thus renamed the Mariinsky Theater as the Academic State Theater. Later, in 1935, it was renamed the Kirov Theater, after the mayor of Leningrad, Sergei Kirov.

The Kirov Ballet Company became famous worldwide and was one of the Soviet Union's proudest achievements. Some of the dancers went on to become international superstars. It is for this reason that the company is still known as the Kirov Ballet, and not the Mariinsky Ballet, although both are correct.

See the Kirov Ballet Where It Began
The Kirov Ballet often tours to various cities internationally, but how exciting would it be to see a performance at the famous Mariinsky Theater? The theater and ballet company is so world-renowned that many aspiring ballerinas and dancers come from all over the globe to study at the Mariinsky. Let me put it this way--the Kirov Ballet is to dance what the New York Yankees are to baseball.

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