Russia's importance to ballet continued in the twentieth century thanks to the forward thinking Sergei Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes dancers.

VOA: special.2011.01.26

Jennifer Homans says that "La Sylphide" and "Giselle" were the first modern ballets.

VOA: special.2011.01.26

Copland later wrote the music for two ballets about the American West.

VOA: special.2009.06.21

Diaghilev's Russian ballets include "The Firebird" and "Petrouchka."

VOA: special.2011.01.26

One of his famous ballets,"La Bayadere,"

VOA: special.2011.01.26