The itinerary involves six cities, with 35 shows. "We make it a point to offer a programme that harmoniously combine classics and the latter day. We are offering 'Raymonde', 'Don Quixote' and 'Giselle', which have grown into a kind of Bolshoi visiting cards, alongside 'Romeo and Juliet'-a trailblazing endeavour, co-produced by British stage director Declan Donellan and balletmaster Radu Poclitaru," Anatoli Iksanov, Bolshoi Director General, said to Novosti.

The tour is especially important to the Bolshoi Ballet as it is revisiting Latin America-it has not appeared in Mexico for close on thirty years now, he added.

More than that, the tour launches Bolshoi partnership with the ICM Artists, prominent US-based agency. "On a five-year contract we recently signed, the ICM will be exclusive representative of the Bolshoi Theatre in North America and Mexico," said Mr. Iksanov. The contract also envisages the Bolshoi ballet and orchestra performing at the Metropolitan Opera next year, and the Bolshoi opera to make its maiden appearance at the renowned Met.