Big name in Russian ballet

KIROV

This historic St. Petersburg company shares its name with a Soviet leader.

The clue refers to the Kirov Ballet, one of the most famous ballet companies in Russia, originally named after the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre before being renamed in honor of Soviet leader Sergei Kirov. It’s a straightforward reference—no wordplay—just a well-known institution in Russian performing arts. If you’re familiar with classical ballet, the Kirov (now the Mariinsky Ballet) is a household name, making this a direct cultural nod.