The ballet adaptation of Romeo and Juliet captures the intensity of the lovers’ journey with dynamic movement and stunning choreography. From the grandeur of the ballroom to the intimate despair of the final crypt scene, every moment is intertwined with music that amplifies the emotions of love, loss, and reconciliation. In the ultimate tale of forbidden love, two young people risk everything to be together.
Background
The most popular version of Romeo and Juliet is set to Sergei Prokofiev's music and was first performed at the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad on 11 January 1940.
Original Composer: Sergei Prokofiev
Original Choreographer: Leonid Lavrovsky
Characters:
(from left)
Romeo - The son of Lord and Lady Montague
Juliet - The daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet
Mercutio - One of Romeo’s closest friends
Friar Lawrence - Franciscan monk, peacemaker between the two families
Did you know?
The original story by Adrian Piotrovsky had a happy ending, unlike Shakespeare's play.
Synopsis
Act I:
The story of Romeo and Juliet starts in a marketplace in Verona. It is carnival time, awhere the Montagues and Capulets, two rival families, prepare for the festivities. Amid the revelry, a confrontation erupts between Tybalt, the fiery nephew of Lord Capulet, and Romeo, the young Montague.
The entire town is drawn into the conflict as the two sides battle. It is not until the Prince of Verona appears that the fighting comes to an end. Ordering both families to stop, they are made to reconcile, and the prince warns them that any further bloodshed will be punished by death.
Meanwhile, in her bedroom, Juliet's Nurse prepares her for an introduction to Count Paris. Her mother and father, Lord and Lady Capulet, then introduce Count Paris. As Paris approaches her for the first time and he offers his hand in marriage, Juliet is overcome with shyness.
As night falls, the Capulets host a grand masked ball. Arriving in masks, Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio gatecrash the masked ball. Upon entering the Capulet’s ball, Romeo spots Juliet dancing with Paris and is immediately taken by her beauty and charm. However, Tybalt soon recognises Romeo and orders him out of the Capulets home.
Unable to sleep after the excitement of the ball, Juliet steps onto her balcony, lost in thought. Unbeknownst to her, Romeo has lingered below, yearning for another glimpse of his newfound love. As she gazes at the night sky, he steps forward, and in one of the most iconic moments in literature and ballet, they declare their love for one another.
Act II
Romeo’s thoughts are consumed by Juliet. The next day, Juliet’s nurse delivers a very important letter to Romeo. As he reads the letter, Romeo discovers that Juliet has agreed to be his wife. The pair meet in secret at a chapel, where Friar Laurence performs the ceremony with the Nurse as their witness, binding them in a love that defies their families’ enmity.
However, their joy is short-lived. Back in the square, an incident provokes a fight between Tybalt and Mercutio. Tybalt kills Mercutio, and in an act of passion and revenge on behalf of his friend — Romeo kills Tybalt. After the murder of Tybalt, Romeo must escape Verona at once or lose his life.
Act III
Before Romeo departs, the lovers share a passionate embrace in Juliet’s bedroom. Juliet is left heartbroken, only to be met with another devastating blow—her parents demand that she marry Paris. Now in love and married to Romeo, Juliet refuses to marry Paris. Her parents are outraged.
Desperate for a solution, Juliet turns to Friar Laurence. He soon gives her a small bottle containing a liquid which will cause her to fall into a death-like sleep.
Lady Capulet and the Nurse prepare Juliet for her betrothal to Paris. Paris tries to regain her trust and affection but as soon as she is left alone in her room, Juliet drinks the potion and falls asleep.
On her wedding morning, Juliet’s friends come to decorate her room, filling it with rose petals before she wakes. The Nurse brings the bridal dress but Juliet remains still on the bed. Mistaking her to be dead, Lord and Lady Capulet order Juliet’s body to be placed inside the family tomb.
Romeo finally returns to Verona and hears of Juliet's death. In disguise, he enters the Capulet crypt and finds Paris by Juliet’s body. Romeo kills Paris, and believing Juliet to be dead, he drinks a bottle of poison. Juliet wakes and finds Romeo dead on top of the tomb. Longing to be reunited with him in death, Juliet takes her own life.
Over the dead bodies of their children, Lord Capulet and Lord Montague finally recognise the futility of their hatred and rivalry.
Watch the Romeo and Juliet Balcony pas de deux here!
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