Formerly Moscow Ballet, NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas is a ballet company that is known worldwide for its annual touring of the historical 'Great Russian Nutcracker' and other classic story ballets such as 'Swan Lake,' 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Cinderella.' The company was created and founded by award-winning Juilliard Alumnus, Composer/Conductor and Theatrical Producer, Akiva Talmi. The organization evolved out of his all-star Russian "Glasnost Festival Tour" (1986-92). Moscow Ballet made its debut in 1993 with the 'Great Russian Nutcracker,' which was directed and choreographed by Soloist Stanislav Vlasov of the famed Russian Bolshoi Theatre. The following year, the company invited the Moscow State Theatre of Natalia Sats and the theatre's full orchestra to expand the company to an 88-artist tour that was billed as the "19th Century Classical Nutcracker." Vladimir Troshchenko, director of Odessa State Ballet and a pivotal figure in the ballet world, was enlisted by Moscow Ballet in 2003 to serve as Ballet Master. Andre Litvinov joined him in 2010 as co-Ballet Master. Moscow Ballet features award winning professional Russian ballet dancers, many of whom are top graduates of Perm, Vaganova, Moscow State Academic Choreographic and Kiev schools.