The signing of the Bolshoi's two stars is the biggest indication so far that his plan is succeeding. Most Russian ballet critics admit that the pair will have more freedom and crucially be given freer reign to tour abroad and take on guest engagements.
Both dancers denied that their move was motivated by financial considerations, and Osipova said her transfer was due to a "search for creative freedom".
But sceptics complain that Kekhman has pulled off a ballet version of Manchester City's prolific spending in the football world, simply luring the best talent away from rivals with promises of large wads of cash.
OLIGARCHS AND THE ARTS
Roman Abramovich
Funds his girlfriend Dasha Zhukova's Moscow art gallery, and has signed up to back the £260 million ($535 million) overhaul of an island in St Petersburg, which will feature another branch of Zhukova's gallery. Also bankrolled a tour by Moscow's Sovremennik theatre to London.
Viktor Vekselberg
Vekselberg not only has the obligatory oligarchic private art collection but has also paid for the repatriation of major Russian artworks. Most notably, he has collected Fabergé eggs, the elaborate ornaments made for the Tsars.
Vladimir Potanin
Made his billions in metals, and now a major donor to St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum. His foundation also sprinkles donations across other artistic causes, and he sits on the board of the Guggenheim Foundation.
- Independent