BU Mint Set

The history of the Finnish National Ballet began in 1922 with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s *Swan Lake* (Schwanensee). The new company was affiliated with the Finnish Opera (Finnische Oper) of the time. Its first ballet master was George Gé, who had received his training in Saint Petersburg (Sankt Petersburg). Thus, the ensemble initially remained closely tied to the tradition of Russian classical ballet. At that time, *Swan Lake* was not yet a standard part of the complete repertoire of ballet companies outside Russia.

The founding took place in the first years after Finnish independence in 1917. During this period, state and cultural institutions were rebuilt or expanded. Alongside literature, music and the visual arts, stage dance also received a permanent institutional framework. A permanently operating ballet company made it possible to train dancers in the country and to perform full-length works regularly.

Initially, the repertoire was based primarily on classical narrative ballets. Later, works by Finnish choreographers as well as modern and contemporary productions were added. In this way, the company developed from a stage strongly shaped by Russian models into an ensemble that combined international ballet traditions with Finnish themes and new choreographic forms. Organisationally, it is now part of the Finnish National Opera and Finnish National Ballet (Finnische Nationaloper und Finnisches Nationalballett), which are based at the opera house in Helsinki.

The first 1922 season was decisive for the chronological placement of the anniversary. The centenary therefore provided a clearly definable occasion for a state commemorative issue. At the same time, the company stands for the institutionalisation of professional dance in Finland. The fact that no specific stage work and no historical dancer were depicted can be understood as a reference to the art form and its development as a whole.