Hundreds of young Russian cadets put on a display of glitz and glamour as they arrived for the annual cadet ball at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
Staged by the Russian Federal Protection Service, St Andrew Hall was transformed into a sea of gold at the military soiree on Wednesday evening.
Dressed to impress in their best finery, girls swapped the parade ground for the ballroom as they turned out in a rainbow of sweeping pastel-coloured ballgowns, which they teamed with white gloves and diamonds aplenty.
Meanwhile, their smartly-dressed dance partners stuck to tradition in full military uniform in a bid to impress at the prestigious event.
Donning their finest gowns, Russia’s young soldiers of the future line up as they take part in the annual cadet ball in St Andrew Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace (pictured)
While girls donned billowing pastel-coloured gowns, the boys stuck to tradition in full military uniform. Pictured, taking to the dancefloor
Drummers of the secondary school No 1770 orchestra put on a grand performance, while the young cadets sported beaming smiles as they danced with one another.
Russia’s soldiers of tomorrow, dressed in their glittering ball gowns, were taken by the hand by their male counterparts in the event which takes the country’s hopefuls for a step back in time.
For many at the ball, it was a fairytale chance to experience the grandeur of Russia’s czarist traditions. With its string quartets, traditional dance routines and patriotic speeches, the event harks back to a bygone era.
The annual ball is a lavish display of discipline, pomp and splendour as girls in billowing dresses twirl across the dance floor, immaculately dressed young men line the hall in orderly rows, and teachers bark out orders, trying to get their students to keep time.
Russian military school students wore their hair pinned back in chic up-do styles, revealing their glamorous diamond earrings. Pictured, with their dance partners
While the girls could be seen wearing a sea of pastel-coloured dresses teamed with white gloves, their smartly-dressed dance partners stuck to tradition in full military uniform (pictured)
A young woman took a look in the mirror before making her grand entrance in the annual cadet ball staged by the Russian Federal Protection Service in St Andrew Hall
In their stylish white gloves, students held up their glitzy ball gowns before making their grand entrance in the prestigious St Andrew Hall
Holding on to the hands of their male counterparts, girls showcased their glittering pastel-coloured ballgowns during the annual ball
With its string quartets, traditional dance routines and patriotic speeches, the event harks back to a bygone era. Pictured, young people take part in the annual cadet ball
The annual ball is a lavish display of discipline, pomp and splendour as girls in billowing dresses twirl across the dance floor, immaculately dressed young men line the hall in orderly rows
Behind the scenes, the girls hurry to get their hair pinned for their grand entrance and are forbidden from wearing red lipstick. Pictured, students from the military school partake in a dance
Meanwhile backstage, lipstick is applied and hair frantically braided, girls jostle for position in front of floor-length mirrors, trying to capture the perfect selfie.
Last year’s ball was held in the fitting location of the Victory Museum which is dedicated to the Great Patriotic War.
Girls twirled in vibrant satin dresses among the historic artefacts while the male military students pulled them in at the waist as they performed classical Russian dance.
They paid tribute to the lavish dances of the Tsar Nicholas II’s Russia in the Debutante-style event while wearing pastel-coloured gowns similar to the Romanov family’s Empress dresses.
But behind the scenes, the girls hurry to get their hair pinned for their grand entrance and are forbidden from wearing red lipstick as the group’s teachers have been known to tell the cadets that they ‘should be girly, not womanly’.
More than 1,800 cadets attended the impressive event the year before – and it was held for two consecutive years at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow.
Children were all smiles as they raised their arms in the air during the annual cadet ball in St Andrew Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace
One child, donned in her best finery, looked delighted to be taking part as she took to the dancefloor to showcase a traditional Russian dance
The event takes the country’s hopefuls for a step back in time – giving them a taste of Tsarist Russia’s grandeur and prestige. Pictured, the young women preparing to dance
The event offers attendees a fairytale chance to experience the grandeur of Russia’s czarist traditions. Pictured, left and right, drummers of the secondary school No 1770 orchestra
Drummers of the secondary school No 1770 orchestra performed at the annual cadet ball while the young cadets twirled around the dancefloor
