A rare set of authentic ballet garments and accessories, including a genuine pointe shoe and a dancer’s dress once worn by Matilda Kshesinskaya, is showcased in the First Position exhibition at the Manege Central Exhibition Hall in St. Petersburg. A report from socialbites.ca notes that the exhibition opened on February 21 and invites visitors to explore a curated view of Russian ballet through a carefully chosen selection of artifacts from the State Archives of the Russian Federation.
The dress on display is described as a staple from Kshesinskaya’s dance classes in the 1880s, offering a tangible link to the discipline and discipline’s early school years. This piece, along with other personal items from renowned figures, helps illuminate the daily life of a ballerina in imperial Russia and the broader culture surrounding classical training.
The exhibition commemorates the 350th anniversary of Russian ballet, a milestone celebrated on February 17. Across venues in St. Petersburg, Moscow and additional regions, the display features more than a thousand artifacts sourced from forty museums, archives, and libraries. Among the highlights are paintings by Mikhail Vrubel and Zinaida Serebryakova, tutus once worn by Galina Ulanova for the Dying Swan act, and personal belongings belonging to composers and teachers such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Agrippina Vaganova, and Alexander Benois. Visitors will also encounter posters from the Russian Seasons, along with archive footage and photographic material that capture key moments in ballet history.
The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Manege Central Exhibition Hall and the Planet9 Bureau, supported by the Presidential Cultural Initiatives Fund. This partnership brings together museum curators, archivists, and scholars to present a cohesive portrait of Russia’s ballet heritage through a diverse array of media and artifacts.
Previously reported by socialbites.ca at the opening of the First Position exhibition, Russian ballet enthusiasts could see how a single dress and a single shoe can open a window into a grand art form and a long, evolving tradition. The display underscores how performance costume and personal items become powerful anchors for memory, education, and public appreciation of classical dance.
For visitors across Canada and the United States who are curious about how Russian ballet has influenced global dance culture, the exhibition offers an educational experience that blends aesthetics with history. It demonstrates how archival materials preserve the legacy of individual dancers and ensembles while illustrating the broader development of ballet pedagogy and performance through time. The First Position exhibition thus serves as a bridge between past celebrations and present-day appreciation, inviting audiences to consider the enduring impact of Russian ballet on modern stagecraft and choreography. The catalog of artifacts and the accompanying interpretive program provide a tangible narrative of a national art form that continues to resonate far beyond Russia’s borders, inspiring dancers and scholars alike. The exhibit not only honors a venerable tradition but also encourages new generations to discover the artistry and discipline that have defined ballet for more than three centuries. Attribution: State Archives of the Russian Federation and associated curatorial partners.