Ivan Vasiliev in Spartacus. Photo © Damir Yusupov, Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Ballet is one of the principal dance companies of Russia and one of the most famous ballet companies in the world. The company is making a highly anticipated visit to London this summer to appear at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The season opens with Spartacus, on Monday July 19.

Yuri Grigorovich’s choreography of the story of the slave who led an uprising against the Romans first took London by storm in 1969. The impassioned score by Aram Khachaturian features some of the most recognisable music from ballet, including the Adagio made famous in the UK as the theme tune to 1970s TV series The Onedin Line.

The Bolshoi Ballet will be accompanied by the Bolshoi Orchestra – the celebrated orchestra of the Bolshoi theatre in Moscow, where both reside.

The Bolshoi Ballet first began in 1773, as a dance school for the children at the Moscow Orphanage. The Bolshoi Theatre was established in 1856 and the connection between the ballet company and the theatre began soon thereafter.

The Bolshoi has been affiliated with many eminent choreographers. During the 18th century, such luminaries as Marius Petipa and Carlo Blasis were responsible for staging productions. During the 1930s, Igor Moiseyev presided over the company, bringing the influence of folk-dance to the Moscow style of ballet increasingly synonymous with the Bolshoi.

During the 20th century, the Bolshoi Ballet earned an astounding international reputation due to phenomenal overseas performances and the skill of its dancers, such as Galina Ulánova and Maya Plisetskaya.

Chinara Alizade in Coppélia. Photo © Damir Yusupov, Bolshoi Theatre

As well as Spartacus, the Bolshoi Ballet is bringing a season to London that celebrates many of the facets and personalities of Russian ballet. Well-loved classics Coppélia and Giselle will be performed, as well as choreographer Petipa’s imagining of Don Quixote, created for the Bolshoi in 1869.

Contemporary Russian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky will be celebrated with his vision of Le Corsaire as well as one of a trio of ballets performed in one evening: Petrushka / Russian Seasons / Paquita. Ratmanksy’s Russian Seasons revels in its inspiration from Russian folk dance. It is joined on the bill by Yuri Burlaka’s revival of the Grand Pas from Petipa’s Paquita and Petrushka, Fokine’s choreography of the tale of a puppet with a human soul.

Dates and tickets can be found on the Royal Opera House website, here.