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The Royal Swedish Ballet is one of the world’s oldest dance companies. It maintains the classical tradition alongside neoclassical works and contemporary dance.

With nearly 70 dancers on its staff of corps de ballet, soloists and principal dancers, this is also Sweden's largest dance troupe.

The Royal Swedish Ballet was originally part of the Royal Opera in Stockholm and was founded in 1773, during the period when King Gustav III and others instituted the other academies to give Sweden a higher cultural profile.

Image: Swan Lake. Choreography by Mats Ek. © photographer Björn Abelin