Now we are heading our way to the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, which used to be Imperial Theater School, where Matilda Kshesinskaya received her dance education. As many years ago, here young ballerinas develop their talents, just like Mathilde Kschessinska once did. Malya fell in love with dancing at the age of 15, when she saw the performance of Virginia Zucchi. After these events, Matilda began to take lessons from the Italian dancer Enrico Cecchetti, she wanted to become better, to bring the dance technique to perfection. And she succeeded. After 10 laborious years of training, at her graduation performance in 1890, she danced flawlessly on stage. On that day, she was the star of the event, she magically attracted the eyes. The heir to the throne, Nikolai Alexandrovich, could not resist... Many years later, she would write in her memoirs: «On that day, my fate was decided». This was the next fouette of fate that was prepared for the ballerina. The young people were genuinely attracted to each other, without any intrigues or benefits. These were real feelings, Malya and Niki were on the seventh heaven of happiness together. But life doesn’t stand still, he is the heir to the throne, and she is a ballerina, their relationship couldn’t reach a new level, it was clear as day to Matilda herself. She cherished the memories of her brief meetings and was happy with those moments with her lover. And even when the relationship ended, the young people remained on good terms, and Nicholas fully supported the ballerina. From despair, Matilda was saved by Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich, a great-uncle of Nicholas II. He had long been in love with Kshesinskaya, and it was to him that Nicholas entrusted the task of taking care of her. Endlessly devoted, Sergei Mikhailovich gave her expensive gifts and took young Matilda on trips. Yes, it was a difficult time for Malya, but there was always ballet in her life that warmed her heart.