Behind the Scenes of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy

Students perform in a ballet class at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.



The Bolshoi Ballet is a renowned classical ballet company based in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater. Founded in 1776, during the reign of Empress Catherine II, it is one of the world's oldest and most acclaimed ballet companies.



Acceptance into the Bolshoi Ballet is extremely competitive. Guest dancers from other prestigious companies sometimes feature, but the majority of dancers are selected from the Bolshoi's own academy.? 



Harper Ortlieb, a 15-year-old American, left her small town in Oregon to move to Moscow to follow her dream of becoming a prima ballerina. She now takes classes? at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.? 




The art of ballet captures the imagination through both its staged spectacles and exclusive culture. The exacting lifestyles of dancers, as they strive for sublime physical effect, has been widely documented in recent years.



As the documentary "Bolshoi Babylon" describes, "The Bolshoi, together with the Kalashnikov rifle, is one of Russia's two most important Russian brands."

In this photo taken on Thursday, March 3, Tatyana Galtseva, a teacher of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, right, helps Harper Ortlieb, from Mount Hood, Oregon.

Students perform in a ballet class at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.


A total of 17 Americans study at the Bolshoi academy, outnumberedamong the foreign students only by the 28 from Japan, with the rest coming from 22 other countries.

Harper Ortlieb prepares for a performance.

Students warm up in a break during a performance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.

Harper Ortlieb, center, dances during a performance.

Harper Ortlieb has dinner with her mother Layne Baumann, left, at home after classes at the Academy.