The Bolshoi Ballet launched its first U.S. tour since 1979, performing two ballets the internationally acclaimed dance company had never before presented in the United States.

″Raymonda,″ by Alexander Glazunov, and ″The Golden Age,″ by Dmitry Shostakovich, were staged for the first time for American audiences when the company debuted June 30, 1987 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

The version of ″Giselle″ that the company performed was also changed since the Bolshoi’s last American tour, and featured new sets and costumes.

About 110 dancers will make the tour, performing in New York through July 18 and at Washington’s Kennedy Center from July 21 to Aug. 1. The Bolshoi will also perform in San Francisco from Aug. 4-9 and in Los Angeles from Aug. 11-30.

Only two of the dancers - Natalia Bessmertnova and Lyudmila Semenyaka - have made previous Bolshoi appearances in the United States.