Museum of the A. Ya. Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet

About museum

In September 1957 a museum was opened at the Leningrad Choreographic School named after A. Ya. Vaganova. It was established at the initiative of Marietta Kharlampievna Frangopulo — a graduate of the Petrograd Theatrical School of 1919 and a ballet dancer of the Mariinsky Theatre. She assembled the collection before the war and carefully preserved the exhibits during the school's evacuation to the Urals (1941–1944). The museum's holdings include photographs, portraits, memoirs, diaries, personal autographs, rare books, iconographic material, theatrical photography and artists' paintings, sculptural works, and sketches of theatrical costumes. The museum hosts round-table discussions, lectures, exhibitions and performances that trace the history of the Russian ballet school. The museum's exhibition is constantly expanding and being updated.