Nine Ladies Dancing Trivia Quiz

Answer: Coppelia

'Coppelia' was first performed in 1870, in Paris, with choreography by Arthur Saint-Leon based on the music of Leo Delibes.

Coppelia is a lifelike doll who captures the heart of a boy named Franz. Swanhilda, who is betrothed to Franz, pretends to be the doll and brings Franz to his senses, leading to a wedding at the end of the ballet.

Answer: Sleeping Beauty

The ballet is based on the fairy tale story of the Princess Aurora, who is cursed by a wicked fairy and falls asleep for one hundred years. She is eventually woken by a kiss from a handsome prince.

The ballet's first performance was in 1890, in St. Petersburg. The music was composed by Tchaikovsky and was the middle ballet of the three for which he was the composer.

Answer: A Midsummer Night's Dream

George Balanchine created the choreography for the ballet, which is, as I'm sure you realised, based on the play written by William Shakespeare. Balanchine used compositions by Felix Mendelssohn, originally written to accompany the play. The overture was composed in 1826, while Mendelssohn added further incidental music in 1842. The ballet was first performed in 1962.

Titania is the queen of the fairies. She has been given a love potion, which makes her fall in love with the first person she sees. This happens to be Bottom, himself under a spell and wearing the head of an ass.

Answer: Petrushka

The music for 'Petrushka' was composed by Igor Stravinsky with the ballet first being performed in Paris in 1911. The role of Petrushka was danced by Nijinsky.

The story involves three puppets, Petrushka, The Ballerina and The Moor. They are brought to life by the Charlatan, with a love triangle developing. The character of Petrushka is the same character as the one known as Punch in the English speaking parts of the world.

Answer: Don Juan

Dating from 1761, the first performance of the ballet 'Don Juan' was in Vienna, with the music provided by Christoph von Gluck. The story was taken from Moliere's version of the tale of Don Juan and his philandering.

Don Juan is serenading Donna Elvira but is discovered by her father. During the ensuing scuffle, Don Juan kills Elvira's father, and ends up in hell for his sins.

Answer: La Bayadere

Also known as 'The Temple Dancer', this ballet is one of many to be choreographed by Marcus Petipa, who was also responsible for the choreography of many of the ballets covered in this quiz. The music was written by Ludwig Minkus and the ballet's premiere was in St. Petersburg, in 1877.

Nikiya is the main role, the temple dancer of the title, with the story being about her doomed love for Solor.

Answer: La Sylphide

The version of the ballet, which is most often performed, dates from 1836. An earlier version from 1832 no longer has its original choreography. The 1836 version was first performed in Copenhagen, as the ballet was presented by the Dane, August Bournonville. He used the original libretto, but new music.

Unusually, perhaps, the ballet is located in Scotland. A young man named James is due to marry Effie, but his attentions are diverted by the sylph of the title. The strings are being pulled by a sorceress and there is no happy ending.

Answer: The Nutcracker

'The Nutcracker' is another ballet to have had its premiere in St Petersburg, this time in 1892. It is also the third and final ballet for which Tchaikovsky provided the music. Among its best known pieces is the 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy'.

The story was adapted from a version of Hoffmann's tale called 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King' and involves various dolls and creatures who come to life under the delighted eyes of Clara, a young girl. In some versions, she is named Marie, but Clara seems to be more common.

Answer: Swan Lake

'Swan Lake' was Tchaikovsky's first ballet, dating from 1876. Its premiere was at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre in March 1877 where its reception was poor, with criticism of the dancing, orchestra and staging. From these unpromising beginnings, the ballet has gone on to become one of the most popular and well known.

The story centres around the Princess Odette, condemned to live as a swan by a sorcerer. Prince Siegfried falls in love with her but is tricked by the sorcerer's daughter, Odile, into being unfaithful. Since the same ballerina usually dances both roles, his straying is, perhaps, understandable. Now Odette can never be released from her spell, leading to tragedy.

Answer: The Firebird

The main female character in the ballet is the Firebird herself, so that would not have made for an interesting question. 'The Firebird' is another ballet for which Stravinsky wrote the music. and its first performance was in 1910, in Paris.

The story involves Prince Ivan, who captures the Firebird while hunting. He spares her life, and is able to summon her assistance when he falls in love with a princess held under a magic spell.