Dance I

Marius Petipa (1818-1910)

Petipa was a great French choreographer. He was the chief choreographer of the Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg from 1862 to 1903.  He perfected the full-length, evening-long story ballet that combined set dances with mimed scenes. His best-known "Russian Classic" works are The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. These ballets are still done today all around the world.