Quiz: name and describe ten of history’s most famous ballets.

Ok: time is up. How far did you get? Chances are that you can reference a handful of dance works, probably some of which you’ve never seen. These works are probably elements of the ballet “canon,” the list of accepted masterpiece works.

Some people ask, why study the same old works? Why these ones? It’s a good question, of course. And, there’s a good answer. The fact is that these works have helped cement ballet’s existence as an art. And even if you don’t like them, it doesn’t change the level of impact they’ve had on the world’s dancers, choreographers, composers, and audiences. They’re pivotal pieces in ballet history, and they have influenced the works that you do like. 

To fully understand the history of ballet, you should get to know your canon. If you came up short during our pop quiz, here are twenty works, in no particular order, that you might want to learn. 

 

Don Quixote

Based on the epic by Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote tells the story of a nobleman who, in his old age,

sets out on imaginary adventures. The aim of Don Quixote’s adventures: to find Dulcinea, the woman of his dreams.

The most successful version of this ballet, choreographed by Marius Petipa for its 1869 premiere with the Russian Imperial Ballet, emphasized the comedic elements of Cervantes’ original work. ¹

 

Giselle

If you practice ballet, you probably know that the role of Giselle is one of the most prized roles, one which demands a level of technique and drama that only the best dancers can demonstrate. The role was originally conceived for Carlotta Grisi, whose performance helped make Giselle a quick success.

Although Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot choreographed the original version of Giselle, the most popular version includes the revisions of Marius Petipa. Giselle. BalletMet Columbus, Feb. 2001.]

Giselle is considered one of the great “Romantic” ballets. “Romantic,” however, does not refer to a “lovestory.” The Romantic Movement, which had taken over literature and other arts by the mid-19th century, emphasized personal expression, feeling, and emotion. The Romantic artists rejected formulas, and they embraced experimentation. At the same time, they looked beyond the physical world to explore the possibilities of spirits and the supernatural. Thus, in Giselle, we’re introduced to the supernatural world through the ravages of heartbreak and Giselle’s wild emotion, expressed in dance.

The story begins when Giselle falls in love with a nobleman named Albrecht, who has captured the girl’s attention while masquerading as a farmer named Loys. When Giselle finds out that Loys is not only a liar, but is a liar with a fiancée, the young peasant girl dances herself to death and becomes one of the Wilis, the virgins who have been cheated out of their marriages by death. 

 

La Bayadere

La Bayadere, a work by Marius Petipa that premiered in 1877, relays the story of Nikiya, a young dancer

who is in love with Solor, a warrior. Because Solor is engaged to marry the Rajah’s daughter, the Rajah arranges for Nikiya to be killed: he sends her a basket of flowers that hides a poisonous snake.

La Bayadere, as a Romantic balllet, emphasizes feeling and emotion. And, it imagines supernatural possibilities by exploring the bonds that exist between Solor and Nikiya even after her death. ²

Coppelia

If you’re looking for a lighthearted piece, Coppelia, which is based on the story The Sandman by E.T.A. Hoffman, is a good choice. This ballet premiered at the Paris Opera in 1870 with the choreography of Arthur Saint-Leon, and it tells the story of Coppelia, a “living” doll who captures the heart of Franz, a young man engaged to Swanilda. 

Since Saint-Leon’s original Coppelia, several versions have been staged, including one by Marius Petipa, one by Enrico Cecchetti and Lev Ivanov, and one by George Balanchine. ³

 

Cinderella

Nearly every child who is familiar with Disney movies would also know the story of Cinderella, the kindhearted girl who finally wins the Prince’s heart, despite the ill treatment of her stepmother and

 stepsisters. We can trace this story to over 1,000 versions, and tocivilizations from all over the world. The ballet, with a score by Sergei Prokofiev, premiered in 1945. ⁴

 

Romeo and Juliet

It’s probably impossible to exist in Western society and not know the story of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This play, which has found success on stage, in numerous literary reinterpretations, and in movies, captures audiences in the tale of two young, impetuous lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Sergei Prokofiev gave the story its life in ballet, telling the story of Romeo and Juliet’s doomed romance. ⁵

 

Sleeping Beauty

Although many people know Tchaikovsky for his work on The Nutcracker, his first success came with The Sleeping Beauty, a work born in 1890 when the composer paired up with choreographer Marius Petipa.

The Sleeping Beauty can actually be traced back to an 1815 production at the Paris Opera. This early production featured the choreography of Jean Pierrre Aumer. ⁶

The Sleeping Beauty story begins with the christening of baby Princess Aurora. The event is celebrated by all of the kingdom’s fairies, except for one: the evil Carabosse. Carabosse, enraged because the king had not invited her to the christening, places a curse on Aurora: the princess will one day prick her finger and die.

After Carabosse’s announcement, the Lilac Fairy does what she can to ease the curse. She announces that Aurora will not die when she pricks her finger. Instead, she will fall into a 100-year sleep, from which only the kiss of a handsome prince will wake her. This prediction comes to pass, and the quest to wake the sleeping Aurora begins.

 

The Nutcracker

Even among people who don’t claim to enjoy ballet, it’s hard to find someone who can’t identify music from The Nutcracker. And during this season, it’s hard to miss advertisements for the hundreds of

companies staging this ballet throughout the world.

The Petipa and Tchaikovsky partnership that created The Nutcracker was encouraged by the success of this duo’s previous collaboration on The Sleeping Beauty.

The Nutcracker is based, somewhat, on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story Nussknacker und Mausekonig (The Nutcracker and the King of the Mice). However, the story was altered dramatically for use in the ballet. ⁷

Swan Lake

As one of the world’s most famous ballets, Swan Lake is often referenced whenever someone who is unfamiliar with ballet names a ballet. And, like many of the other canonical ballets, the story of Swan Lake is much older than the ballet itself.

Though most people associate Swan Lake with Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, and Tchaikovsky , theirs is not the original version of the ballet. The original version, with choreography by Julius Reisinger and music by Tchaikovsky, predated Petipa’s version by nearly 20 years. ⁸

 

La Sylphide

We can see more evidence of the Romantic influence on ballet in La Sylphide, which premiered in Paris in

1832. The piece had been created for Marie Taglioni, who would dance the role of the Sylphide. The choreographer, Marie’s father, Filippo Taglioni, had included a great deal of pointe dancing in the role, and this technique helped to give her a light, ethereal appearance.  ⁹

 

 

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