Bolshoi (Russian: большой, meaning big, large, great) may refer to:
The Bolshoi Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. Founded in 1776, the Bolshoi is among the world's oldest ballet companies. It only achieved worldwide acclaim, however, in the early 20th century when Moscow became the capital of Soviet Russia. Along with the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg, the Bolshoi is recognised as one of the foremost ballet companies in the world.
The earliest origins of the Bolshoi Ballet, can be found in the creation of a dance school for a Moscow orphanage in 1773. In 1776, dancers from the school were employed by Prince Pyotr Urusov and the English theatrical entrepreneur Michael Maddox, to form part of their new theatre company. Originally performing in privately owned venues, they later acquired the Petrovsky Theatre, which, as a result of fires and erratic redevelopment, would later be rebuilt as today's Bolshoi Theatre. The Bolshoi Ballet is a very hard place to get into. While some guest dancers come and go, from other very prestigious ballet companies—like from the Mariinky and American Ballet Theatre—many company dancers are carefully selected graduates of the academy. The first American ballet dancer to graduate from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and to join the Bolshoi Ballet company, was Michael Shannon, in 1989.
Please, don't leave this way
There's still so much to say
And we could always talk together
Swallow your pride and sit down
Smooth away that frown
If we must part let's leave as friends
We were such a happy go-lucky pair
All the dreams we shared
I can't believe it's true, after all that we've been through
Please don't go
One thing I'm certain of, I have no doubt
People need each other, that's what life's about
And oh, if we can try then baby by and by
We can work it out
Please let down your guard
Life can be so hard
And we could always help each other
You've got no reason to cry
This is not goodbye
For I will always love you
My love is an open book
If you take a look you can read between the lines
I smile and say 'I'm doing fine'
Please don't go
Don't you know, baby if you go
A part of me will never be the same no more
Turn around, let's try it
Just one more time
Please don't leave me this way
There's still so much to say
And we could always talk together
You've got no reason to cry
This is not goodbye
For I will always love you
Don't you know I care
Care about you yes I do baby / I'm still your friend
What we have to share
Share a dream now there's no end / can never end
We were such a happy go-lucky pair
All the dreams we shared
I can't believe it's true
After all that we've been through
Please don't go
One thing I'm certain of, I have no doubt
People need each other, that's what life's about
And oh, if we can try then baby by and by
We can work it out