ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on Soviet ballet tours in two artistic and political capital cities, Paris and London, which were also important in the struggle of the superpowers. The study of these two European cities in the Cold War in the ballet field is still lacking and the European angle brings an important perspective to the more traditional Soviet-American viewpoint. The chapter explains a functional approach as practised by Pascal Ory that aims 'to light actors, factors and the effects of this relation'. This approach will permit us to reconstruct a perspective into the period in the ballet field but at the same time to explore some precise tours and their effects on Paris and London scenes and audiences. Sources such as British and French diplomatic papers, general and specialised press, and interviews with former dancers have been used.
