“A true artist must sacrifice herself to her art. Like a nun, she does not have the right to lead the life desired by most women.” (Anna Pavlova) The famous writer Yulia Andreeva opens up to readers a panorama of the “royal” period of Russian ballet. Magnificent gala performances, behind-the-scenes intrigues, exhausting rehearsals, instantly wounding your feet until they bleed, stories from the lives of the most famous ballerinas: the brilliant Anna Pavlova, the sandal queen Isadora Duncan, the mysterious Matilda Kshesinskaya. What was the life of a ballerina of the Imperial Theater made up of? Why was there a fierce debate about whether a ballerina should wear a corset? You will learn about all this from the book you are holding in your hands now.