10 photos revealing the side of ballet we don’t see

When concert hall lights are turned off and the gala tutu hangs on the rack, the pointes are still put on, and the secret off-stage life of the theater continues.

Mikhailovsky Theater opens its curtain for photographers so that they can catch the rehearsal.

Behind the myth of weightless dancers, everyday hard work goes unseen.

Tough diets, damaged feet, and other difficulties are forgotten when ballerinas go on stage - then their moves and gestures are flawless and their bodies recall the ideal of ancient aesthetics.

The Russian school of ballet is considered to be the world’s finest, and Russian dancers are easy to spot. Their every step and head tilt are brought to perfection through endless training.

Even after hundreds of performances, the moments before entering on stage are the most stressful.

Mikhaylovsky Theater was founded by personal order of Tsar Nicholas I in 1833, and it had one of the best troupes that performed for the Imperial court.

Mikhaylovsky ballet has had many successful international tours and is headed by Mikhail Messerer.

Photographers managed to catch the dancers in a way that a theater-goer never sees them when they are not acting but training in special warm dress or stretching.