The Moscow State Academy of Choreography (Russian: Московская государственная академия хореографии) commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, founded as an orphanage by order of Catherine II in 1763, is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools of ballet in the world . It is located in Moscow, Russia and the affiliate school of the Bolshoi Ballet. The Bolshoi Ballet receives the majority of its dancers from the Academy, as do most other Moscow ballet companies. Numerous choreographers,