In the 1920’s, Soviet ballet underwent a lot of fire from “leftwing” press. Ballet was called a backwards art, one belonging to ancient feudal systems, which was sure to fall to pieces with the instigation of a new, forward looking, and communist community. When ballet looked its worse, an appealing young woman, Agrippina Vaganova, created the answer to the revolution’s call for a new Russian system of dance: the Vaganova method. Absolutely, this method was considered excellent and became the most common ballet teaching method in Russia and other parts of the world. Agrippina also established a Vaganova academy to keep her legacy growing strong. Hence, Agrippina Vaganova, the Vaganova method and the Vaganova Academy mastered Russia and opened doors for ballet history.

In 1879, Agrippina Vaganova was born on a cold dreary St. Petersburg morning. Her father, who was an usher at the world distinguished Marinsky Theatre, automatically noticed that she had a desire for ballet and placed her under the theatre’s Imperial Ballet School. As a dancer with the Imperial Ballet, she was known as the “queen of variations” renowned for her jumps and batteries; although her lack of beauty didn’t give her the title of ballerina until 1915, the year before her retirement. Eventually, she became a well - known teacher/choreographer and created an instructional system that later became known to the world as the Vaganova method. Her most important choreography, which demonstrated the strength of her teaching style, was Swan Lake (1933) and La Esmeralda (1935). In 1951, Agrippina Vaganova departed from our world leaving an impressive legacy; a method with romantic plasticity added with Italian bravura - the Vaganova method.

Agrippina Vaganova developed what would become the standard for Soviet ballet instruction as well as most of the world: the Vaganova method. Initially, the features of the method includes:

1. a rigorous planning of the teaching process,
2. a considerable complexity of the exercises directed at creating a “virtuoso” technique, and
3. an aspiration to teach dancers a conscious approach to every movement.

In order to form a solid foundation of support for dancing, special attention is given to forming an “ion aplomb”, or steadiness, in the trunk of the body - a prerequisite to free body control in dance. Practicing plies with the feet in first position, a student would greatly develop a system of support for all tours and complicated jumps. Another target of Vaganova’s unrelenting attention was the correct training for the dancer’s arms. While creating the crown of artistic picture, the arms actively aid the movement in high jumps. The secret to Baryshnikov’s moves lay in his arms and their ability to create lift in his body without the customary “springboard” push - off of the ground. As a result, the Vaganova method leaves a dancer with a strong lower back, plasticity of the arms and endurance in the muscles for the most difficult movements known to the dance world today.

All over the world, the Vaganova method has mastered many companies and the Vaganova Academy, located in St. Petersburg is one of the world’s top - notch schools for upcoming dancers. The talented, musical Vaganova academy, which was once the old Imperial Ballet School, has taught such dancers as Anna Pavlova, George Balanchine, and Vaslav Nijinsky. Because the school has a worldwide reputation, prospective students are required to pass an examination and could be separated from their parents for months or even years. In addition to a number of ballet classes, students are also asked to study different subjects as well: ballet history, French, and piano. Besides teaching them ballet, the school of eighty instructors also recommends discipline and obedience, both of which are imperative to the serious ballet student. It becomes clear that a dancer’s life would be full of artistic success at the world’s most top - notch school.

One way or another, the Russian - endorsed Vaganova method of ballet has become known as the classical style of ballet. Agrippina Vaganova inspired a creative initiative among Russia and students all over the world by being the artist of great meaning, lofty lyricism and heroic spirit. By holding these distinctive traits at the Vaganova academy, a dancer would be a professional in a marvelous way. It clearly seems that the Vaganova method is the essence of Soviet ballet.