International festival of classic ballet in Kazan

The 17th Rudolf Nureyev International Festival of Classic Ballet opens in Kazan on Wednesday.

This year's event marks two significant dates, the 65th birth anniversary of Rudolf Nureyev and the 10th anniversary of giving his name to the festival.

The ten-day festival is a great chance for the theatergoing public to appreciate the skills of more than 30 leading soloists from the best theaters of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The event rounds off with a gala show featuring dancers from such internationally acknowledged acts as Igor Moiseyev's State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble and Boris Eifman's Ballet Theater.