Possible Clues:

• Russian ballet troupe's ex-name
• Knock-out verse about Irish city
• Nureyev or I keep holding back ballet company
• Mariinsky Ballet, as it's known internationally
• Russian city known in romantic old verse, originally
• Mariinsky Ballet’s former name
• Drink first in opera-house, ahead of very famous ballet
• Russian musical company, main rival to the Bolshoi in opera and ballet
• Novosibirsk? Snob is upset with this Russian place
• Soviet ballet