Classical ballet is known for bringing romantic stories to life in a stunning way, and for making the audience feel grandiose emotions.
Whether you have never watched ballet before or you are a ballet enthusiast, here are 10 famous ballets you should see if you get the chance to.
1. Swan Lake
Swan Lake, a ballet that everyone has heard about, presents an ageless tale. Odette, a beautiful young woman, has been cursed by a sorcerer named Von Rothbart. During the day she is the Swan Queen, and she can only appear as a human at night, which is when she meets Prince Siegfried.
The famous ballet was composed by Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Julius Reisinger in 1875, and it premiered in 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia.
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2. The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a Christmas tradition for many people, and children enjoy it as much as adults do. It tells the story of Clara, a young girl who shrinks to the size of a mouse, while her nutcracker toy goes to war against the evil Mouse King.
It was composed by Tchaikovsky, and choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. It premiered in 1892 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, where it was not originally successful.
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3. Giselle
Giselle tells the story of Giselle, a beautiful young woman who dies of a broken heart when she learns that the man she has fallen in love with was in fact a nobleman named Duke Albrecht, and that they could not be together. Giselle’s spirit eventually saves his life, allowing her to rest in peace.
The famous ballet was composed by Adolph Adam, and choreographed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. It premiered in 1841 at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris.
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4. Romeo and Juliet
Who doesn’t know this tragic love story written by Shakespeare? Romeo and Juliet are two star-crossed lovers who choose to die since they are not allowed to live together.
The music of Romeo and Juliet was composed by Sergei Prokofiev, and the ballet was first choreographed by Ivo Váña-Psota when it premiered at the Mahen Theatre in Czechoslovakia in 1938. Many different versions of the ballet have been created since then.
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5. Don Quixote
The Don Quixote ballet is inspired by the story written by Miguel de Cervantes. Don Quixote is a romantic dreamer who decides to escape from reality, and he lives different adventures in a fantasy world where he believes he is a knight searching for his beloved Dulcinea.
The ballet was composed by Ludwig Minkus, and choreographed by Marius Petipa. It premiered in 1869 at the Ballet of the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia.
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6. Cinderella
Cinderella is a classic tale written by Charles Perreault. Cinderella is constantly humiliated by her step-mother and her step-sisters, but thanks to the help of her fairy godmother, she can wear a beautiful dress and glass slippers to go to the ball and meet the prince.
Cinderella was composed by Sergei Prokofiev, and choreographed by Rostislav Zakharov. It also premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, in 1945.
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7. La Bayadère
La Bayadère tells the tale of Nikiya, a temple dancer, and her lover Solor, a warrior. They have sworn fidelity to each other, but the High Brahmin decided he wanted Nikiya to be his. She is eventually killed, but Solor and her are reunited in the afterlife.
La Bayadère was composed by Ludwig Minkus and choreographed by Marius Petipa, and it premiered at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in Saint Petersburg in 1877.
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8. Coppélia
Coppélia tells the story of Franz, a young man who falls in love with a life-size mechanical doll created by Doctor Coppelius. Coppelius needs a human sacrifice to make his doll come to life, but Swanhilda, who was supposed to marry Franz, manages to save her lover.
Coppélia was originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon to music composed by Léo Delibes, and this famous ballet premiered at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris in 1870.
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9. The Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty is based on the tale written by Charles Perreault. Princess Aurora is cursed by the evil fairy Carabosse, who declares that she will prick her finger on a spindle and die at the age of 16 years old. Fortunately, a good fairy alters the curse so Aurora will fall asleep instead.
The Sleeping Beauty is another ballet that was composed by Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Marius Petipa. It premiered in 1890 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.
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10. La Sylphide
La Sylphide tells the story of James, a young man who is about to get married, but falls in love with a sylph, which is a mythological air spirit. They both meet a tragic fate.
La Sylphide was first choreographed by Filippo Taglioni, father of famous ballerina Marie Taglioni, to music composed by Jean-Madeleine Schneitzhoeffer. It premiered at Salle Le Peletier in 1832.
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