Famous Ballets
1 / 15From Swan Lake to The Nutcracker, how well do you know the world's most beloved ballets?
15 quick questionsNo sign-upFree to playTap an answer below to begin ↓
Which composer wrote the music for 'Swan Lake,' 'The Nutcracker,' and 'The Sleeping Beauty'?
About Famous Ballets
From Swan Lake to The Nutcracker, how well do you know the world's most beloved ballets? Famous Ballets packs 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 7 medium, 5 hard, 3 easy questions into a relaxed session of roughly 7 minutes — no sign-up, no timer pressure. An explanation appears after every answer, and finishing once a day keeps your streak alive.
A few sample questions
1. Which composer wrote the music for 'Swan Lake,' 'The Nutcracker,' and 'The Sleeping Beauty'?
Answer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky composed the music for all three of the most popular ballets in the repertoire. Together they are sometimes called the 'Big Three' of classical ballet.
2. In 'The Nutcracker,' which sweet treats perform a dance in the Land of Sweets?
Answer: Various treats including chocolate, coffee, tea, and candy canes
Act 2 of 'The Nutcracker' features a series of divertissements representing treats from around the world: Spanish chocolate, Arabian coffee, Chinese tea, Russian candy canes, and Danish marzipan shepherds, among others.
3. Which ballet tells the story of a peasant girl who dies of a broken heart and becomes a spirit?
Answer: Giselle
'Giselle' (1841) is one of the greatest Romantic ballets. After discovering her lover Albrecht's deception, Giselle dies and becomes a Wili — a spirit of a maiden who died before her wedding day.
4. Prokofiev composed the music for which ballet based on a Shakespeare play?
Answer: Romeo and Juliet
Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet' (1935) is one of the greatest ballet scores of the 20th century. The 'Dance of the Knights' and the balcony scene pas de deux are among its most famous moments.
5. Which ballet features a toymaker who creates a life-sized dancing doll named Coppélia?
Answer: Coppélia
'Coppélia' (1870), with music by Léo Delibes, tells the story of Dr. Coppélius, an eccentric toymaker, and his mechanical doll. It is one of ballet's most popular comic works.
Things you'll learn along the way
- 'Petrushka' (1911) is set at a Shrovetide fair in St. Petersburg. Three puppets — Petrushka, the Ballerina, and the Moor — come to life and act out a love triangle. It premiered with the Ballets Russes.
- Marius Petipa, a French-born choreographer who worked in Russia, created the definitive choreography for many classical ballets. He collaborated with Tchaikovsky and is considered the father of classical ballet as we know it.
- 'Appalachian Spring' (1944) was choreographed by Martha Graham with Copland's score. Set in the Pennsylvania countryside, it depicts a young couple's celebration of their new home. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
Frequently asked questions
Is Famous Ballets free to play?
Yes. The entire SeniorBrainGames catalog — including Famous Ballets — is free, with no sign-up required, no time limits, and no ads on top of the game. It also works offline once the page has loaded once.
How long does Famous Ballets take?
Most players finish Famous Ballets in about 7 minutes. You can pause between questions, replay it as often as you like, and there is no penalty for taking your time — answers are explained after you submit them.
What's a good follow-up after Famous Ballets?
If you enjoyed this general knowledge quiz, try the Daily Challenge — five rotating questions, refreshed every 24 hours, that count toward your streak. You can also use the Surprise Me button on the homepage to land on a different game type for variety.
Can I print Famous Ballets?
Yes — use the Print button at the top of the page for a clean question sheet, or "Print with Answers" to make an answer key. Printed sheets work well for group play at home, in a classroom, or at a senior center.
More General Knowledge
Famous Battles
Test your knowledge of history's most significant battles!
Famous Dams of the World
Test your knowledge of the world's most impressive dams and hydroelectric projects!
Famous Duos & Partners
How well do you know history's most famous pairs and partnerships?
Famous Laboratories
Explore the world's most renowned research labs where groundbreaking discoveries were made
Famous Novels
How well do you know the world's most celebrated novels and their authors?
Try Memory Games
What's the Slogan? Famous Ad Taglines Quiz
From catchy jingles to unforgettable one-liners, see how many of America's most iconic advertising slogans you can match to their brand — these classics from the 1950s through the 1990s are burned into the memory of anyone who watched television during those golden decades.
Try Memory Games
Famous Arches Quiz
From triumphal arches to natural stone formations, test your knowledge of the world's most iconic arches.
Free printables
Printable Logic Grids
Logic grid puzzles to solve on paper, with solutions.