Abstract: This article examines the phenomenon of “enlightened balletomanes” within the Russian ballet critique (XIX century), as well as peculiarities and key trends of their critique activity. Ballet critique, similar to the contemporary to it theatrical critique, recruited into its authors educated and literary gifted ballet enthusiasts. Observing ballet on the regular basis, the theatre habitues were turning into its connoisseurs; they payed detailed attention to dance technique and content of performances, its weak and strong sides, were able to describe a stage movement and a dance, as well as formulate their perceptions and assessments. Such experts, who also wielded a skillful pen, were called the “enlightenment balletomanes” in analogy with “enlightened theatregoers”.  Some of them used to be actors, journalist or dramaturgists, some even military officers or government officials, but being in a constant connection with the ballet theatre, they intergrew the profession of ballet peer reviewers and observers, contributing to the establishment of the professional ballet critique of its time.