School Spotlight
Vaganova Ballet Academy
The Vaganova Ballet Academy is one of the oldest and most storied classical ballet schools in the world. It gives its name to the Vaganova method, a training system that shaped generations of dancers. Students train in a rigorous program closely tied to the traditions of the Mariinsky stage.
Fast facts
- Founded
- 1738
- Location
- Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Training
- Vaganova
- Affiliation
- Mariinsky Ballet
What Vaganova Ballet Academy is known for
- The Vaganova method
- Centuries of tradition
- Ties to the Mariinsky Ballet
Notable alumni
Dancers associated with Vaganova Ballet Academy include Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Natalia Makarova, George Balanchine.
How to audition
Entry is highly selective and based on auditions that assess physique, musicality, and aptitude for classical training. International applicants should review the academy's official admissions guidance for age requirements and audition schedules.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What method does the academy teach?
It teaches the Vaganova method of classical ballet, a system named after the pedagogue Agrippina Vaganova.
Which company is it associated with?
It has a long historical association with the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg.
Where is Vaganova Ballet Academy located?
Vaganova Ballet Academy is located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
When was Vaganova Ballet Academy founded?
Vaganova Ballet Academy was founded in 1738.
Is Vaganova Ballet Academy connected to a ballet company?
Mariinsky Ballet.