A study of the Russian choreographer Lev Ivanov that follows him from his school days to a career as choreographer in one of the greatest ballet companies in the world - the Imperial Ballet of St Petersburg. That milieu, Ivanov's ballets, and their reception are described and documented.

This is the first book-length study in any language about this Russian artist--Marius Petipa's colleague and Tchaikovsky's collaborator--who is widely celebrated and yet virtually unknown. It follows Ivanov from his infancy in a St Petersburg foundling home through to his career as a dancer, regisseur, and choreographer in the St Petersburg Imperial Ballet. Ivanov's artistic world is described, as is his legacy-- some dozen works, including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and the famous dances from Prince Igor--that inspired Mikhail Fokine in the next generation. The book is richly documented, including the first complete publication of Ivanov's memoirs and hundreds of citations, many published here for the first time, from state documents, reminiscences, and criticism.

Professor Roland John Wiley has, through incredibly detailed and extensive research in Russia, managed to piece together a much clearer picture of this master choreographer's life and achievements than has ever been available before ... the book is very easy to read and well divided into clear cut sections ... there are fascinating accounts of his days at ballet school and graduation into the Imperial Ballet at the Maryinsky Theatre ... superb book ... It is a "must" for all who really care about classical ballet.