Here is a list of the most famous ballet performances that have stood the test of time and reputation as significant works of art cherished for choreography, music, and sheer force of influence in dance:
- The Nutcracker, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s request by Alexander Pushkin, is a holiday favorite that charms audiences with its fairytale storyline and selections, including ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ and ‘Waltz of the Flowers.’
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake features some of the most challenging roles a ballet company can present. Its music is iconic, and the story involves a doomed romance between a prince named Siegfried and a princess who is cursed into the form of a swan by a lousy magician.
- Giselle (1841) by Adolphe Adam – A romantic ballet in two acts, Giselle tells the tale of a peasant girl who dies of a broken heart when she learns that her lover is engaged to another. The ballet is perhaps best known for its ‘Wilis’, a group of supernatural women who dance men to death.
- ‘Cinderella’ is a magical story for the ages, with a touch of humor, the splendor of classical ballet, and the assurance of ‘happily ever after.’
- Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Another luscious and treacly Tchaikovsky showpiece, enchanting from beginning to end with beautiful production, fairytale enchantment, and formidable – and exhausting – roles for the star parts. The most famous ballet in the world features the ‘Rose Adagio.’
- Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (1935), inspired by the William Shakespeare play, is synonymous with drama and the lead dancers’ humanity and is essential for any company’s repertoire.
- Léo Delibes’s Coppélia is a comic ballet about a doll so natural that a village swain falls for her, thus jeopardizing his relationship with his true love.
- Ludwig Minkus’s Don Quixote – This neoclassical ballet is inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ epic novel of the same name, famous for its Spanish flair, technical bravado, and Kitri’s rebelliousness.
- Serenade is George Balanchine’s first ballet, created in America. It remains a monumental moment in US ballet. It is famous for its beauty, innovation, and use of an ensemble in neoclassical ballet.
- Dracula Ballet ‘In the Shadow of Evil’ Enter the sinister world of the original vampire, whose thirst for blood spells carnage and death for all his unsuspecting victims.
Not for nothing, they still play to houseful audiences around the world. First produced, each of these ballets tells an emotionally intense story through daring choreography, memorable music, and brilliantly conceived dramatic stage effects.