"I Taught what I learned as a child in St. Petersburg at the Mariinsky School."
- George Balanchine

The Historic Return to Russia

New York City Ballet: Bringing Balanchine Back tells the story of New York City Ballet's historic visit to St. Petersburg, Russia to perform at the famed Mariinsky Theater, where ballet legend and NYCB co-founder George Balanchine received his training and began his career. One of the most famous theaters in the world, the Mariinsky is where Tschaikovsky created The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, and where other greats of the ballet world such as Nureyev, Nijinsky and Baryshnikov took their first ballet steps.

The eagerly-anticipated trip coincides with the worldwide celebrations marking the centennial of Balanchine's birth, and takes place during St. Petersburg's annual White Nights festival. Included is performance footage of several of Balanchine's most acclaimed works, as well as ballets by Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins, and a rare glimpse behind-the-scenes for a number of backstage dramas.