Performances at the PACE Center

​May 25th, 2024 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm

Coppélia is a sentimental comic love story which will delight the whole family with its humor and charm.

Set in an Austrian village, the doll maker, Dr. Coppélius has made a beautiful mechanical doll that he has named Coppélia and she sits on his balcony reading her book. However, she is so realistic that everyone mistakes her for a young girl, possibly Dr. Coppélius’s daughter, and the young Franz even falls in love with her, much to the annoyance of his fiancée, Swanhilda. Determined to discover the secret behind the mysterious Coppélia, Swanhilda and her friends sneak into Dr Coppélius’s house, only to discover that her rival is nothing more than a mechanical doll. When Dr. Coppélius returns, the girls flee, but Swanhilda hides with Coppélia and disguises herself as the doll. At the same time, Franz sneaks into meet Coppélia, but Dr. Coppélius catches him and puts him to sleep so he can use him as a human sacrifice to bring his beloved doll to life. He believes he has succeeded when Coppélia seemingly springs to life, but it is actually Swanhilda dressed up as the doll. When Franz wakes up, Dr. Coppéliusrealises he has been tricked and that Coppélia is nothing more than a doll. Swanhilda forgives Franz for his folly and the two are married.

​ Let your imagination run wild with this charming tale, where toys come to life and the path to happily ever after takes a few detours.

The ballet takes place during Napoleon’s occupation in Spain and tells the tale of Paquita, the heroine. She was abducted by Romani people however is actually of noble birth. Early in the story, she saves a French officer’s (Lucien) life from the Spanish government, who had sent an assassin, Iñigo, to kill him. Naturally, they fall in love although their social ranks keep them from being together. Through a series of dramatic events, Paquita comes to learn of her true identity and ultimately is able to marry Lucien

​The first act takes place in the gypsy camp in the Valley of the Bulls where the French General Graf d’Hervilly and his wife and son Lucien are unveiling a new memorial for the General’s brother the Conte d’Hervilly and his wife and daughter, who were assassinated by bandits years before. Also attending the unveiling is the corrupt Spanish Governor Don Lopez de Mendoza and his daughter Serafina. General d’Hervilly proposes a marriage between Lucien and Serafina, which Serafina delightfully accepts, but Lucien is reluctant because he is not in love with her. Don Lopez de Mendoza agrees to the marriage, but is really against it because he secretly wants the young Lucien dead. When the nobles exit, the gypsies enter, led by their ruthless chief Iñigo and last to arrive is the beautiful Paquita while picking flowers. Iñigo scolds her for being late, but then tries to win her over with his declarations of love, which Paquita rejects with contempt. In a mime scene, Paquita explains that Iñigo mistreats her by always forcing her to dance for money and she remembers that she was very young, her parents were murdered, revealing a miniature portrait of her father that she has always had. The nobles then return and Iñigo rounds up the gypsies to dance for them, presenting some very colourful Spanish and gypsy dances, including a Pas des manteaux and a Pas des éventails.
After the first set of dances, Iñigo orders Paquita to collect money from the guests and as she passes the hat around, she meets Lucien and it is love at first sight. However, Paquita then gets into an argument with Iñigo, who is not happy with the result of the money collection, but Lucien intervenes, stopping Iñigo from hitting Paquita. In the confusion, Paquita drops the miniature portrait of her father, which Iñigo finds and steals. Realising she has lost her father’s portrait, Paquita is distraught, but Lucien comforts her and asks her to dance, a request she joyfully accepts. This is followed by pas des sept that was created especially for Carlotta Grisi in accordance with the tradition of creating a showcase piece for the Prima Ballerina. The pas was named the Pas de sept bohémiennes and was nicknamed the “Pas de Carlotta” in Grisi’s honour. The dance features Paquita and six of her friends dancing with their tambourines to entertain the noble guests and further enhances Lucien’s fascination with her.


After the dancing, the nobles leave, but the Governor stays behind and instructs Iñigo to do away with Lucien, an instruction that Iñigo accepts. Lucien returns to see Paquita and asks her to leave her gypsy life and attend a great ball that his parents are holding at their residence, but, though she is moved, she refuses because of his betrothal and their differences in social status, prompting Lucien to declare his love for her. However, Iñigo witnesses the rendezvous and informs the Governor and they decide to use Paquita as bait to lure Lucien into a deadly trap. They order one of the gypsy girls to give a flower to Lucien, telling him it is from Paquita and a message to meet her in her lodging.
The second act, which takes place in Paquita’s lodging, is almost entirely devoted to pantomime. Paquita is alone thinking of Lucien, when suddenly, she is disturbed by the entrance of Iñigo and a masked stranger. Paquita hides and when the stranger removes his mask, she is shocked to recognise him as the Governor, but even more so when she overhears that the two men have lured Lucien to the lodging so they may kill him. Iñigo explains that he will offer Lucien a glass of drugged wine and when Lucien is unconscious, several of the gypsies will emerge from the fireplace, the wall of which is constructed to swivel and reveal a secret entrance, and kill him. The Governor pays Iñigo for his services and leaves, while Iñigo summons several of the gypsies and explains the plot to them. Paquita tries to leave, but Iñigo and the others catch her, but she assures them she knows nothing of what is going on. Lucien arrives and Paquita tries in vain to warn him of the murder plot. Iñigo invites him to sit and have some food and wine and orders Paquita to lay the table. Iñigo then fills Lucien’s glass with the drugged wine, but Paquita quickly causes a distraction that enables her to switch the glasses when neither Iñigo or Lucien are looking. As the two men continue to drink, Paquita dances to entertain them and the drug begins to take its effect on Iñigo. When he passes out, he drops Paquita’s miniature portrait, which she retrieves. Knowing that the other gypsies might catch them, they cover the unconscious Iñigo in Lucien’s cloak and make their escape through the secret entrance in the fireplace. At that moment, the gypsies enter and find the unconscious individual, unaware that it is Iñigo, and stab him to death, only realising their mistake too late.
The third act is a French ball at General d’Hervilly’s palace and opens with a contredanse francaise, a waltz and a gavotte. The ball is being held in honour of the late Conte d’Hervilly, whose portrait is on display, and the guests comprise of French and Spanish nobles. Suddenly, Lucien and Paquita burst in and Lucien tells everyone of the attempt on his life and how Paquita saved him. He asks her to marry him, but she refuses because he is noble and she is a mere gypsy. Upon seeing the Governor, Paquita reveals to all that it was he who orchestrated the murder plot, recounting all she witnessed at her lodging. The Governor is arrested and Serafina flees in distress. Before Paquita can leave, she notices the portrait of the Conte d’Hervilly and recognises him as the same man in her father’s miniature portrait. The truth is finally revealed – Paquita is the long-lost daughter of Lucien’s uncle, who was thought by everyone to be dead; her parents were murdered by the gypsies, who took the young Paquita in and raised her as one of their own. Now, there are no obstacles standing the way of Paquita marrying Lucien and the General blesses their marriage. The ball becomes a celebration to celebrate the homecoming of Paquita. After a series of dances, the ballet is brought to a close with a waltz entitled the Queen of Prussia waltz.