Archive of Scientific Articles

Submitted: May 27, 2026

Abstract. The purpose of the research is to produce a creative biography of ballerina Tatiana Smirnova during her studies at the St. Petersburg Imperial Theater School. Using the example of Smirnova’s studies, the article reveals the specifics of the training of future ballet dancers in the 1820s-1830s, explores various aspects of the Theater School’s activities (organizational, financial, creative), and considers the process of teaching children. The author examines in detail the archival materials related to the activities of the Imperial Theater School. The decisive role of the state and patrons in the education and formation of the best creative forces of the national ballet is noted. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time in ballet studies, corrected and verified biographical dates for the ballerina were introduced into academic discourse, a creative portrait of the dancer Tatiana Smirnova, a student of the ballet school, was developed, and a broad picture of the organization of ballet education in Russia in the 1820s-1830s was presented. For the first time, this work provides a comprehensive analysis of the learning process at the Imperial Theater School, from junior to senior grades. As a result of the research, it was established that Tatiana Smirnova’s studies at the Theater School contributed to the formation of her artistic talent; high personal creative results were ensured by the high-quality organization of the educational process. This was conditioned by the participation of the state and patrons in the functioning of the educational institution, the preservation of pedagogical traditions, stage practice – the constant participation of the best pupils in performances, the care of the theater administration for financial support and encouraging the best students.

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