La Bayadère

This vibrant ballet, created by Marius Petipa at the end of the 19th century, is a perfect combination of meticulous classicism and romantic exoticism, culminating in the unforgettable scene "The Kingdom of Shades". Nikiya, the bayadère (or "temple dancer") at the center of the drama, embodies the contrasts at the heart of the plot: love vs duty, submission vs empowerment, light vs dark.