Dance History Resources: Ballets

This book contains articles that tell the stories of over 400 ballets of lasting importance in the history of dance, as well as significant newer works. Also included are basic details about the first performance and major subsequent performances by other dance companies. Coauthored by the great choreographer, George Balanchine, the book provides his insights into the history and significance of the ballets, reviews by major dance critics, and his own recollections of the ballets that he choreographed himself.

This book contains articles on more than 500 major ballets, giving a brief summary of the plot and details of the choreographers, composers, dancers, date, and place of the first performance.

This book contains articles about influential ballet choreographers of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, followed by lengthy plot summaries of many of their ballets.

This book tells where to find plot summaries and descriptions of individual ballets, as well as historical background and critical analysis of them. It is a good source to turn to when the books listed above do not contain information on the ballet you are researching.