Upon arrival meet your Learning Journeys guide and transfer to your hotel Relax after a long flight. Overnight in Radisson Collection hotel in Moscow (or similar 5-star hotel)

Learning Experience: Cultural sketch of the main highlights of Moscow: Red Square “The heart of Moscow,” St. Basil’s Cathedral, Christ the Savior Church with panoramic view, Sparrow Hills, the highest viewpoint of the city; Iconic Kremlin “a fortified complex in the center of Moscow,” Armory Chamber. Originally a commercial center, Red Square has been at the very center of Russian history since the 15th century. The magnificent square encompasses an area of over 70,000 square metres and is bounded by the Kremlin walls, St. Basil’s cathedral, the Historical museum, and GUM department store, the shopping arcade that was completed in 1893. At the southern end of Red Square is the almost fairy-tale-like building of St Basil’s Cathedral, commissioned in 1552 by Ivan the Terrible. Cathedral of Christ the Savior was consecrated on the day Alexander III was crowned, May 26, 1883. In 1931, according to the personal order of Stalin, the St. Savior Cathedral was fully destroyed. In 1994, under the initiative of the Moscow Mayor, new construction of the St. Saviour cathedral was begun. It was completed in time for the 850th anniversary of Moscow, in 1997. Enjoy the best view from Sparrow Hills, where you can see most of the city. The observation platform, on a steep bank 279 feet above the river offers a panoramic view of the city. Kremlin tour: You might be surprised how many ancient and magnificent structures one can see within its walls, including 15th century cathedrals (the coronation, wedding and bury place of Russian rulers), the bell-tower, Patriarch’s Palace, Grand Kremlin Palace, and of course, the richest museum, the Armoury. The Armoury has a fantastic collection of insignia of Imperial power relics, precious clothes, ceremonial harness, and a unique collection of imperial carriages. Meals included: Breakfast Overnight in Moscow

Russian folk dance is an important part of Russian culture. Some of the unique characteristics suggest that many elements were developed by the early Russian population. The dances were also influenced by cultures from the Orient and the Occident. The Russian circle dance "Horovod," has its roots in ancient Slavic traditions and exists in similar forms in Balkans (Choros in Greece), in Middle Eastern cultures, and in China. The original Russian folk dance traditions continue to play an important part in the culture of the country and have been in constant interaction with Russia’s many ethnic groups. Russian folk dances are also in interrelations with other types of artistic expressions. One example can be seen in the Ballets Russes, which invokes Russian folk dances and music in its pieces. You will practice Russian folk dance at the Russian dancing studio “DanCo.” Evening performance/Russian Folklore show Kostroma The National Russian Show is an authentic folk gathering. During the two-hour performance, you will witness the grandiose combination of music, drama and dance, accented by luxurious sets and costumes, video-projection, and laser animation. More than 200 unique costumes decorated with pearls, silver, and beads have been designed specifically for the 17 costume changes in the show; 300 pairs of shoes have been made; and some 50 professional dancers employed. Every item of the National Russian Show is distinguished with unique choreographic language; the show unites the Russian folk dance with its modern stylizations. Meals included: Breakfast Overnight in Moscow

The quadrille is a dance that was fashionable in late 18th- and 19th-century Europe and its colonies. The quadrille consists of a chain of four to six contredanses, courtly versions of English country dances taken up at the court of Louis XIV, which spread across Europe. Later, the quadrille was frequently danced to a medley of opera melodies. Performed by four couples in a rectangular formation, it is related to American square dancing. The dance was introduced in France around 1760. Originally a form of a cotillion, in which only two couples were used, two more couples were eventually added to form the sides of a square. The couples in each corner of the square taking their turns. Lewis Carroll lampooned the dance in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland's "The Lobster Quadrille" in 1865. Though new music was composed, the names of the five parts (or figures) remained the same, as did the steps and the figures themselves. Our professionals will teach you the movements of this dance. Lunch at “Artist Gallery” Enjoy lunch at a unique and amazing location. This small building’s exterior, a former palace of Prince Dolgoruky, is modest in design and is highly contrasted with the splendour of the place inside. There are seven beautiful halls in the restaurant and the artist’s gallery of Zurab Tseritelly, a well-known Russian architect. The “Artist Gallery” hall of this restaurant boasts natural light via its glossy roof and abundance of gleaming mosaics. The menu features Russian and Georgian cuisine. Evening performance in the Bolshoi theatre The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow is one of the major symbols of Russia and one of the most famous theatres in the world. It underwent six years of reconstruction before being reopened in 2011. The historical building was designed by architect Joseph Bovéand and built in 1824. The new edifice of the Bolshoi Theatre was rebuilt and enlarged several times. It is considered one of the more mesmerizing theatrical buildings in the world, given its wonderful architectural style. Ballet and opera performances are staged at the Theatre with some of the world’s biggest stars. Meals included: Breakfast Overnight in Moscow

Galina Ulanova Apartment–museum The memorial Museum-apartment of renounded ballerina Galina Ulanova opened in 2004. Located on the Kotelnicheskaya embankment, this is where she lived the last years of her life. The objective of the museum-apartment is to reflect the unique personality of the ballerina, Ulanova – as artist, and Ulanova – the human being. The interior of the apartment bears the imprint of Ulanova’s taste, way of life, and personal qualities. It is an example of how representatives of the country’s artistic intelligentsia lived in the Soviet and post-Soviet times. Beyond being merely a memorial museum, the museum-apartment attempts to recreate in the exposition the events of a great life, revealing them in the context of time, in personal, creative, and public relations of the ballerina. Expanding the scope of the museum, it also covers the most significant events and phenomena in the history of national and world choreography. There are documents, handwritten notes, and photographic materials, reflecting the ballerina’s connections with colleagues in the art of ballet, the drama theatre, with composers and musicians, choreographers, artists, sculptors, students, and admirers of Ulanova’s talent. The atmosphere of the venue allows entry into the mystery of the life of this great woman, and a feel for her personality, and the artist who left such a unique mark upon the art of the 20th century. In the afternoon we take the high speed train Sapsan to St. Petersburg You will be transferred by private vehicle to the Leningradsky railway station, a 10-minute drive from the city center, for the train to St. Petersburg. The new high speed train was launched in December 2009 and operates between Moscow and St Petersburg. The train leaves Moscow at 1 p.m. and arrives at 6 p.m. at the Moskovskaya railway station, a 10 to 15-minute drive from the city center. Meals included: Breakfast Overnight in Astoria Rocco Forte hotel in St. Petersburg, or similar 5 star hotel

In the morning you will have a chance to become acquainted with one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, St. Petersburg stands as one of the most romantic cities in all of Russia. Among the many poetical names applied to St. Petersburg, the most common is “Northern Venice.” It is filled with fascinating palaces and cathedrals, beautiful bridges over Venice-like canals, spacious squares, and wide streets decorated with edifices of flourished baroque and impressive classical styles. There is monumental sculpture here and lacy iron grilles resulting in a special kind of spirituality, which affects all who visit. In 1991 the city was placed on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage. St. Isaac’s Cathedral is a masterpiece of late Classicism, the largest church building in Russia, and the second largest Orthodox church building in the world. Commissioned in 1818 by Alexander I, this imperial cathedral with its opulent interior and huge gold dome is one of the tallest in the world among domed cathedrals. Continue to Vasilevskiy Island, Rostral Columns and visit Peter and Paul’s Fortress Standing on a small island at the center of the Neva delta, the fortress was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great and is the oldest building in St Petersburg. Until 1917, the fortress was mainly used for holding political prisoners, such as Dostoyevsky, Lenin’s brother Alexander, and Peter the Great’s own son Alexei. At the heart of the fortress is the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, with its landmark gold spire, where many of Russia’s pre-Revolutionary leaders were buried. Enjoy your trip and visit the Hermitage. Founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great purchased a collection of 255 paintings from Berlin, the Hermitage is one of the largest museums in the world. It possesses more than 3 million exhibits within its four buildings and attracts approximately 3 million visitors per year. The exhibits depict works as diverse as Da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, an impressive collection of impressionists, and the largest collection of Titians in existence. The main building of the Hermitage Museum, ideally located on the bank of the river Neva, is the Winter Palace, built from 1754 to 1762, and once the main residence of the Russian Tsars. The Hermitage stands as one of the most prominent art museums in the world, and one of the main tourist attractions of St. Petersburg, with a collection that constantly offers new exhibit opportunities. Meals included: Breakfast Overnight in St. Petersburg

The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance, dating back to the 16th century. The ability to dance the waltz is considered aristocratic, and noted by many Russian novelists, from “Eugene Onegin” by Puskin, “Masquerade” by Lermontov, and “War and Peace” by Tolstoy. The greatest contribution in the popularization of the waltz was made by Johann Strauss. The history of the Russian waltz started with the name of Griboedov, who was a famous writer. The first real Russian waltz was the waltz-fantasia by Glinka. In our Boca dance studio, you will learn to dance waltz. Evening performance in the Mariinsky Theater – Optional One of the city’s attractions is the Imperial Opera Theatre. Called Mariinsky in honor of Maria Fedorovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander II, the Mariinsky Theatre. It is one of the most beautiful in the world and famous for its renowned performers, such as Marius Petipa, Matilda Kshesinskaya, Anna Pavlova, Rudolf Nureyev, Michael Barishnikov, Fyodor Shalyapin, among many others. The theatre has witnessed the triumphs of several generations of opera and ballet stars. Learning Experience: Dancing lesson: Waltz Meals included: Breakfast Overnight in St. Petersburg

Visit the exhibition “Russian Ballet Stars of the 20th Century” "Russian Ballet Stars of the 20th Century" is a permanent exhibition, dedicated to the outstanding ballet dancers and events of the Russian ballet of the period. Saint Petersburg is considered to be the capital of Russian ballet; it has given the world the greatest dancers of the 20th century, including Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Galina Ulanova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolf Nureyev, and many others. The exhibit featuring genuine costume and scenery designs, unique photos and posters, costumes and dancers’ personal belongings, covers the history of Russian ballet starting from Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes to the most prominent ballet premieres of the Soviet period. The exhibit is held within the walls of The Samoilov Family Museum. The Samoilov dynasty stands high in Russian theatre’s history; over 13 members of the Samoilovs family had been shining on stage throughout a century and a half. Private children ballet performance Special private performance of the school young students This ballet school is led by Vladislav Kuramshin, a graduate of the Leningrad Academic Choreography school (now the Vaganova ballet school) and ballet dancer of the Kirov (Mariinsky) theatre. The school is a unique organization, as children start professional ballet education here from the young age of 5 or 6 years old. The school is a private educational institution. The theatre has been on tours with great success, through Europe and has repeatedly emerged a winner of various international ballet festivals and competitions. Farewell dinner at the restaurant “Repa” Repa restaurant is situated in front of the new stage of Mariinsky theatre, where paintings of famous ballets grace the walls and a piano upon which Shostakovich played, may be seen. All the products are sourced from local suppliers and from different parts of Russia. Dishes are prepared according to traditions, but in the unique chef’s interpretation. The Repa embodies St. Petersburg’s perfect balance of art, food, culture, and traditional influences. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight in St. Petersburg

Don’t leave yet! Extend your journey on one of our numerous learning programs. We look forward to welcoming you back on another Learning Journeys immersion.