Famous Ballets “P...-”
for performance, language & visual arts, music, social studies classrooms, home schoolers.

Paquita
Peer Gynt

La Peri
Peter Pan

The original Paquita ballet in two acts and three scenes, with libretto and choreographed by Joseph Mazilier and Paul Foucher, was first presented in 1846.

Ballet Master Marius Pepita added Paquita Pas de trois for the first act, and the Paquita Grand pas classique and the Mazurka des enfants (Children's mazurka) for the last act, to the ballet in 1881. The music was by composer Ludwig Minkus.

The story line is the gypsy girl Paquita uncovers a Spanish plot to kill a young French officer in Napopleon's army. She also discovers she is really of royal birth and was kidnapped as a baby.

Henrik Ibsen's verse play Peer Gynt was introduced as a ballet in 1986.

Using Persian mythological symbolism the one act ballet La Peri is about a man's search for immortality.

A ‘pari’ are the descendents of fallen angels who have been denied paradise until they have done penance.

J. M. Barrie's story Peter Pan has been adapted for ballet many times.

Petrushka, a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky, was composed in 1910–11 for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. The choreography was by Michel Fokine, the title role was danced by Vaslav Nijinsky.

A “petrushka” is a traditional Russian folk puppet liken to Punch or Pulcinella in character.

Pulcinella, a classical character that originated in the commedia dell'arte of the 17th century, inspired another Stravinsky ballet in 1920.

Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev, the set and costumes were designed by Pablo Picasso, and choreographed by dancer Léonide Massine.