The Bolshoi Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Founded in 1776, The Bolshoi is among the world’s oldest ballet companies. Along with The Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, The Bolshoi is recognised as one of the foremost ballet companies in Russia, as well as being the largest, with approximately 220 dancers. Indeed, the very name “Bolshoi” means “big” or “grand” in Russian. The performance style of the Bolshoi Ballet is typically identified as being colorful and bold, combining technique and athleticism with expressiveness and dramatic intensity. This style is commonly attributed to Gorsky. The Bolshoi has an historical rivalry with St. Petersburg heritage ballet company, the Mariinsky. Both have developed very different performing styles: the Bolshoi has a more colorful and bold approach, whereas the Mariinsky is associated with pure and refined classicism. The Bolshoi Ballet recently returned to The Royal Opera House in London for a three-week Golden Jubilee season of spectacular ballet productions of Swan Lake, La Bayadère, The Sleeping Beauty, Jewels and The Flames of Paris.