Famous Ballets Quiz
What is the name of this ballet that revolves around a young villager who falls in love with a life-size, realistic doll who can be wound up and dance?
- Young Franz falls in love with a mechanical doll, but in the end, narrowly escapes being sacrificed to bring her to life.
After her tragic death, this girl's ghost protects her lover from evil spirits called "Wilis". What is the name of the ballet?
- Though Giselle died of a broken heart after learning she would never be able to marry her true love— a nobleman— she eventually saves him from the great beyond.
Which of the following ballets features the Mouse King?
- A classic Christmas production, "The Nutcracker" was written by Tchaikovsky and premiered in 1892— to significantly less acclaim than we hold for it today.
What was the surname of the famous artist who composed the iconic music for "Swan Lake"?
- The Russian composer presented his ballet in his home country, opening "Swan Lake" in Moscow in 1877.
Which ballet features a character called the Lilac Fairy and an antagonist by the name of Carabosse?
- Based on Charles Perreault's fairy tale, this is yet another classic ballet by the famed Tchaikovsky that first appeared in 1890.
Which country is Marius Petipa's "La Bayadère" set in, featuring a temple dancer and her warrior lover?
- This gorgeous ballet ends in bittersweet tragedy as the titular temple dancer and her love must die before meeting again in the afterlife.
In "Swan Lake", the figures of the White Swan and Black Swan portray the conflicting forces of morality. What is the Black Swan's human name?
- This just amplifies the two diametric forces, as the name of the White Swan Queen is Odette.
What country does the plot of "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai" begin in?
- This ballet was based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin, detailing the Tartar invasion of Crimea.
Which of the following Shakespeare plays has been adapted into famous ballets?
- Shakespeare's works have been made into several ballets and even operas— with other titles including "Macbeth", "King Lear", "Othello", and many more.
