Ballet was part of the high drama of the Cold War, as the US and the Soviet Union jockeyed for both political and cultural authority. The Soviet Union produced some of the greatest dancers the world has ever known, with the Bolshoi and Kirov companies as standard bearers. But there were also painful losses and defections, with as much dramatic intensity off the stage as on it.

The exhibition Red Shoes explores how the culture wars shaped American and Soviet ballet, with a focus on the personal stories of two couples who danced across Cold War borders.

Exhibition dates: 17 September 2018 – 13 January 2019