Guide
The Most Famous Ballets, Explained
The great classical ballets are the ones you will see again and again on stages around the world. Here is a guide to the most famous, with the story, the composer, and what makes each one special. Pick one to dive in, or use it to plan your next night at the ballet.
Swan Lake
Swan Lake is the ballet almost everyone pictures first when they hear the word ballet. It has a lake, a spell, and a whole flock of dancers moving like real swans. Once you have seen it, that swan music tends to stay in your head for days.
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is the ballet families see together every holiday season. It is full of a growing Christmas tree, dancing sweets, and a toy that turns into a prince. If you have ever hummed along to a ballet without knowing it, this is probably the one.
Giselle
Giselle is the great heartbreak ballet of the Romantic era. It has a trusting village girl, a secret betrayal, and a moonlit forest full of ghostly brides. Dancers often call the lead role one of the most rewarding and demanding in the whole repertoire.
The Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty is grand classical ballet at its most royal and glittering. It has a christening, a wicked fairy, a hundred year nap, and a happily ever after full of fairy tale guests. Many dancers see the lead role as a true test of classical polish.
Don Quixote
Don Quixote is the sunny, high energy crowd pleaser of classical ballet. It has Spanish flair, fans and castanets, and one of the most electrifying pas de deux ever choreographed. If you want a ballet that feels like a party, this is a great pick.
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet turns Shakespeare's most famous love story into pure dance. It has sword fights, a masked ball, and a balcony scene that many people call the most romantic in ballet. The Prokofiev score alone is worth the ticket.
Coppélia
Coppélia is one of the funniest and most charming ballets in the classical world. It has a mysterious doll, a nosy village girl, and an inventor who gets fooled by his own creation. The music is so cheerful it is hard not to smile all the way through.
La Bayadère
La Bayadère is a sweeping tale of love, jealousy, and revenge set in a dreamlike vision of India. It has a temple dancer, a warrior, and one of the most breathtaking group scenes in all of ballet. The famous Kingdom of the Shades looks almost hypnotic on stage.
The Firebird
The Firebird is a glittering Russian fairy tale brought to life by the daring Ballets Russes. It has a magical glowing bird, an evil sorcerer, and a hero who saves the day with one enchanted feather. Stravinsky's music helped make him one of the most famous composers of his time.
Cinderella
Cinderella turns the beloved fairy tale into a magical evening of dance. It has a fairy godmother, a midnight deadline, and a glass slipper that changes everything. It is a favorite for families who want a story they already know and love.
La Sylphide
La Sylphide is one of the earliest Romantic ballets and helped set the style we still love today. It has a woodland spirit, a young man who chases a dream, and airy dancing on the tips of the toes. It is a lovely window into where classical ballet's magical creatures began.
Le Corsaire
Le Corsaire is a swashbuckling adventure full of pirates, shipwrecks, and daring rescues. It has one of the most famous pas de deux in ballet, packed with soaring leaps and spins. If you like a story with plenty of action, this one delivers.