Famous Ballets through the years

La Sylphide

Mar 12, 1832

Choreographed by: Filippo Taglioni
A classical masterpiece, La Sylphide is a romantic story about the insatiable human desire to find true love. When a forest fairy uses her magical gifts to attract a young Scotsman on the eve of his nuptials, the story unravels in a forest of uncertainty about whether love or longing is worthy of self-sacrifice.

La Esmerelda

Mar 9, 1844

Choreographed by: Jules Perrot
The beautiful gypsy girl, Esmeralda marries the poet, Pierre Gringoire in a gypsy wedding to save him from death in the hands of the gypsy king.Gringoire is not the only one with eyes for Esmeralda, the corrupt Claude Frollo holds a dangerous obsession for the girl, despite his position in the church, and orders his deformed henchman, Quasimodo to abduct her. When he attacks Esmeralda in the street, she is rescued by the handsome Captain Phoebus and falls in love.

Don Quixote

Dec 26, 1859

Choreographed by: Marius Petipa
Don Quixote is engrossed in a book about ancient chivalry. He falls asleep and dreams that he is a knight defending his ideal woman, Dulcinea. His vision is disrupted when Sancho Panza bursts through the study door. The gluttonous Sancho has stolen a ham and a group of exasperated housewives are pursuing him. Startled by the commotion, Don Quixote turns the angry women out of the room. An idea then comes to Don Quixote. He will make Sancho his squire and together

Swan Lake

Mar 4, 1877

Choreographed by: Marius Petipa
Prince Siegfried is celebrating his coming-of-age party. Everyone dances, then Siegfried runs off hunting with his friends. And his trusty crossbow.In the forest, the Prince find a serene lake with a beautiful swan on it. The swan transforms into a beautiful woman, Odette. She tells Siegfried that the evil wizard Rotbart cursed her to become a swan.

Sleeping Beauty

Jan 15, 1890

Choreographed by: Marius Petipa
The enchanting story of Princess Aurora, bewitched by the evil Carabosse and placed along with her kingdom into a deep and
protective sleep by the benevolent Lilac Fairy, to be awakened by her noble Prince whose kiss breaks the spell.

The Nutcracker

Dec 18, 1892

Choreographed by: Marius Petipa
Its Chirstmas Eve and family and friends have gathered at Clara's familys home. Clara's Godfather gives her a Nutcracker and her brother breaks it. The party ends and everyone leaves. Clara and her family go to bed. Clara creeps back to the room. All of a sudden, mice start running about the room. The dolls, the tin soldiers, and all the other playthings come to life to fight the mice. Clara saves the nutcracker turning him back into a prince.

FIrebird

Jun 25, 1910

Choreographed by: Mikhail Fokine
The ballet centers on the journey of its hero, Prince Ivan. Ivan enters the magical realm of Kashchei the Immortal; all of the magical objects and creatures of Kashchei are herein represented by a chromatic descending motif, usually in the strings. While wandering in the gardens, he sees and chases the Firebird. The Firebird, once caught by Ivan, begs for its life and ultimately agrees to assist Ivan in exchange for eventual freedom.

Romeo and Juliet

Dec 30, 1938

Choreographed by: Leonid Mikhaylovich
Based on the tragic love story written by William Shakespeare. Romeo and Juilet have a forbidden love and hope that they can finally bring their familes back together and stop the feud. This takes a turn when Murcutio is killed and sets the families into a tailspin. The couple runs away to be married but juilet takes a potion to mimic death and romeo kills himself because he cannot live without her. Once Juilet awakes she sees romeo dead and stabs herself.

Fancy Free

Apr 18, 1944

Choreographed by: Jerome Robbins
The scene is a bar and the outside sidewalk in New York City, in wartime. Three sailors on liberty boisterously arrive, have a drink (two of their number conning the third into paying), and head outside looking for female companionship. A beautiful girl passes by and the three sailors vie for her attention. She demurs and escapes, pursued by two of the sailors. The Third, having been left in the dust, encounters another beautiful passer-by.

Jewels

Apr 13, 1967

Choreographed by: George Balanchine
Jewels is unique: a full-length, three-act plotless ballet that uses the music of three very different composers. Balanchine was inspired by the artistry of jewelry designer Claude Arpels, and chose music revealing the essence of each jewel. He explained: “Of course, I have always liked jewels; after all, I am an Oriental, from Georgia in the Caucasus.