the bolshoi should bring kindest to people. instead, it is drowning in its own entry. >> it should only be famous for cultural events. >> the bolshoi is a much-beloved institution, but a change of leadership at the top of the company is an indication more work is needed to regain the confidence of lovers of ballet both here and abroad. a cesspool of pathological cruelty, that is how one insider described the bolshoi. infighting come artistic jealousies, and grudges, and, of course, the acid attack have left the name of bolshoi more associated with scandal than with performances. aljazeera, moscow.

you can compare the bolshoi stage to yankee stadium. >> brown: if the bolshoi is an unlikely place for a south dakota-born, arizona-raised kid to end up, hallberg, now 31, credits fred astaire with setting him on the path, beginning at age eight when he watched "top hat" on tv. >> i was glued to the way he moved and sort of his suaveness, you know, his seamless way of movement. he was a huge inspiration to me when i was young. >> brown: that initial interest was followed by years of work with kee juan han, former director of the arizona ballet school, now with the washington ballet. >> it was not just his physicality that was so impressive, but the intensity of the way he worked was very impressive, too. >> brown: the teacher and pupil spent six days a week and countless hours, focusing on strength, conditioning, flexibility, and mental toughness. >> i am not easy to work with, because i always believe that the dance world is not an easy place. >> he did not kill me with kindness. >> brown: did he almost kill you with the amount of work? >> yes. my parents would sit in on my private le

one of those arrested is a bolshoi dancer. disputes between dancers and directors are not unusual in russia. since the soviet era, performers have enjoyed permanent contracts and they wield considerable influence in their troupes. in some cases young artistic directors have been pressured into resigning. following the acid attack at the bolshoi theater, the russian government drew up a new policy requiring dancers to undergo regular tests. this will strengthen the government's control over theaters since it will allow dancers to be fired if the test results indicate they lack professional competence. the proposed law is now being considered by russia's parliament. it calls for the competency tests to be carried out every five years. individuals who fail the test or refuse to take part may be fired by the theater. but it does not specify the actual methods of testing or the evaluation standards. >> translator: the ballet company needs to be systematically reformed. now is the time. >> reporter: the government's plans have cause

the famed director of the bolshoi is sacked after months of trauma that rival any production. drama that rivaled any production. viewers on public television in america and also a around the globe. tonight, egypt remains a country in crisis after the moslem brotherhood rejected plans for new elections to be held next year. the group said new proposals put forward by the caretaker president are unlawful. this comes just a day after dozens are killed in clashes with the army. the burials are now under way. from cairo, we begin our coverage. >> draped in the egyptian flag, these coffins are empty, but they have huge significance for the egyptian president. who commemorate the men were killed in yesterday's attacks. they said this was not a pro- islam rally, but the protests for democracy and against army control. >> i cast my vote. interim government has proposed this plan. the constitution will be written and put to a referendum in four months. early elections would follow in 2014. only when a new parliament is convened would there be a presidential election. >> there is no supp

the famed director of the bolshoi is sacked after months of trauma that rival any production. drama that rivaled any production. viewers on public television in america and also a around the globe. tonight, egypt remains a country in crisis after the moslem brotherhood rejected plans for new elections to be held next year. the group said new proposals put forward by the caretaker president are unlawful. this comes just a day after dozens are killed in clashes with the army. the burials are now under way. from cairo, we begin our coverage. >> draped in the egyptian flag, these coffins are empty, but they have huge significance for the egyptian president. who commemorate the men were killed in yesterday's attacks. they said this was not a pro- islam rally, but the protests for democracy and against army control. >> i cast my vote. interim government has proposed this plan. the constitution will be written and put to a referendum in four months. early elections would follow in 2014. only when a new parliament is convened would there be a presidential election. >> there is no supp

. >> speaking of uncertain futures, today the head of the bolshoi was sacked after months of infighting. is saved forrama the stage, but since an acid attack on the artistic director theaccusations by dancers, real drama has taken place behind the scenes. >> it is one out of the most ,amous theaters in the world but it is the drama behind scenes that has taken people's breath away. an attack on the artistic director has left him virtually blind. a dancer has been charged with organizing it. , in fightingions and scandals have tarnished the bolshoi's renovations. a massive renovation was widely criticized for cost overruns and delays. he was involved with one of his denounced his leadership style before being forced out. the controversial director is now also departing. >> obviously, the theater needs to be renewed. this is not a spontaneous reaction. renew andcontract to reform our cultural institution. >> as for the man himself, he offered only thanks to his friends and colleagues, and to the bolshoi. but while he shook the hand of the new man faces a mammoth task, to restore a the rep

the famed director of the bolshoi is sacked after months of trauma that rival any production. --