Ballet a la Russe ( E1) A make or break show for a young graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy

More films about Russian Ballet: In the first episode we meet two young ballerinas who are at the opposite ends of their student careers at the famous Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. Renata Shakirova is a graduate whose talent and dedication have secured her a solo part in the Vaganova Academys graduate show. For the first time in nearly 30 years, it will be performed in Moscow inside the Kremlin walls, in fact. This puts a lot of pressure on the dancers, particularly, the prima ballerinas. In addition, the Academys rector and famous Russian dancer, Nikolay Tsiskaridze, wants his show to prove his critics wrong. His appointment as the head of the school caused controversy in the media, and this needs to be put to bed. The stakes are high and failure is not an option. Renata Shakirova has to give her performance her all and make sure the graduation show is a triumph. The other young ballerina is Sofia Valiulina, one of the Academys new recruits. She finds Rena