Acis et Galatée

Acis et Galatée is a ballet choreographed by Michel Fokine, based on an ancient Sicilian legend. Fokine created this ballet in 1905 for his pupils, marking one of his early choreographic works. The ballet draws from the Greek myth of Galatea, a Nereid who was loved by the Cyclops Polyphemus, but she, in turn, loved the youth Acis. Polyphemus, in his jealousy, crushed Acis to death with a boulder. Fokine's work is noted for his innovative approach to ballet, advocating for movement that corresponds to the subject, period, and character of the music, and for complete artistic unity within a ballet.12