Following their sell-out 2015 performances of Swan Lake, the Imperial Russian Ballet Company return to perform the ageless tale of bravery and dreams that is The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker is famous for Tchaikovsky’s music. The genius of Tchaikovsky created one of the most recognisable and enduring music scores ever written.

The illustrious cast of the Imperial Russian Ballet Company enjoy performing The Nutcracker more than any other ballet from their extensive repertoire, especially when they are joined by children from local ballet schools in the cities that they perform in around the world.

The Imperial Russian Ballet Company was formed in 1994 by the Bolshoi Theatre soloist, Gediminas Taranda.

GEDIMINAS TARANDA – HEAD & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - BIOGRAPHY

Gediminas Taranda was born in Kaliningrad in 1961 and grew up in Voronezh. He trained at the State Academic Moscow Ballet School from 1978-1980 before joining the Bolshoi Baller as a soloist. For thirteen years until 1993 Gediminas Taranda was a star of the Bolshoi Theatre performing in many ballets. In 1994 he formed and became Artistic Director of The Imperial Russian Ballet Company bringing on board friends who were dancers at the Bolshoi and Kirov ballets including Maija Pilsetskaya who is one of Russia’s most famous ballerinas. She supported the company and in 1994 they performed with her on stage to celebrate her 50th anniversary as a performer. In 1996, she was named President of the Imperial Russian Ballet Company. Gediminas Taranda has produced and participated in many charitable performances to raise funds for the struggle against cancer, and is an active participant of AAD (Art Against Drugs) in association with "The Russian Fund of Culture". In 1997 he was awarded the title "Man of the Year" and the "Silver Cross Award". In 2004 he received an award from the Russian Federation honouring his work in the Arts and in 2008 was the winner of the Diaghilev medal for his contribution to art. He was invited to work as a motivational coach for the Russian Gymnastics team at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. His strive for perfection with all whom he works with is best epitomised in his own words: "If something is worth fighting for, you have to fight until the last breath (is left) in your body".

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