the Founder of new capital Peter I gave great value to a theatrical art in business of education of citizens. It was above noticed already, that sister Peter I Natalia Alekseevna took a great interest in theatre. It has brought To Petersburg from Moscow actors. In the huge empty house have arranged auditorium and a scene. In 1714 performances here have begun. Put plays of shkolno-church repertoire of the Slavjano-Greek-Latin academy, devoted to propagation of Northern war and popularisation of policy Peter I. Between play actions sometimes executed small interludes - ' amusing shows ' on various topics of the day. This theatre has been closed in 1716 after Natalia Alekseevny's death.

In 1732-1737 in the Winter palace the court theatre has been equipped and approximately during same time have started creation from serf boys and girls of ballet troupe. In 1738 on a management of ballet master Landa from children palace prislug the dancing school has been created. Serf actors appeared on stage of court theatre in Petersburg in 1744 on the occasion of wedding of the successor of a throne of Peter Fedorovicha (the future Peter III) with the princess Angalt-Tserbtsky (the future Catherine II). Has been executed ' Ballet of colours '. Each actress represented a flower: Aksinja - ' the Rose ', Elizabeth - ' Renenkul ', Agrafena - ' the Anemone ', ' the serf girls who were going to school Landy were daisies ' and ' iasinsami '. The history of Russian serf theatre in Petersburg has begun this performance. Performance was successful, pupils took on the state maintenance. The quantity of pupils at ballet school has increased.

At ballet school the majority of pupils was made by children of petty bourgeoises and libertines, however and serfs were there not in a rarity. So, in 1797 chamberlain N.N.Demidov has given to study, to dances of the three serf girls. Similar cases was a little.

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