21 Greatest Ballet Composers of All Time (You Should Know)

Ballet, a timeless art form that marries music and movement, has been graced by the genius of composers who have shaped its history and evolution. The greatest ballet composers have created scores that not only complement the choreography but also elevate the storytelling, bringing depth, emotion, and energy to the stage.

Their works have become the backbone of the ballet repertoire, enchanting audiences with their melodies and rhythms, and inspiring generations of dancers and choreographers.

This article explores the lives and legacies of these extraordinary composers, whose music continues to define and enrich the world of ballet.

21 Most Influential & Greatest Ballet Composers That You Need to Hear

These composers have made a lasting impact on the world of ballet, creating works that have become integral to the ballet repertoire and continue to inspire choreographers and dancers alike.

Here’s a list of 21 of the greatest ballet composers, known for their significant contributions to the art of ballet music:

#1 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is arguably the most famous ballet composer in history, with his works Swan Lake (1877), The Sleeping Beauty (1890), and The Nutcracker (1892) forming the cornerstone of the classical ballet repertoire. Born in Russia, Tchaikovsky’s music is known for its emotional depth, rich orchestration, and memorable melodies, qualities that made his ballets beloved by audiences worldwide.

Despite initial mixed receptions, his ballets became iconic, setting new standards for the genre and influencing countless composers and choreographers. Tchaikovsky’s ability to blend dramatic narrative with musical expression created ballets that are as much a feast for the ears as they are for the eyes, ensuring his lasting legacy in the world of dance.

#2 Ludwig Minkus (1826–1917)

Ludwig Minkus was an Austrian composer who made significant contributions to ballet music during the 19th century. He is best known for his collaboration with the choreographer Marius Petipa, with whom he created some of the most enduring ballets of the era, including Don Quixote (1869) and La Bayadère (1877).

Minkus’s music is characterized by its rhythmic vitality, melodic charm, and suitability for dance, making his scores ideal for the ballet stage. He spent much of his career in Russia, where he served as the official composer of the Imperial Ballet. Minkus’s work played a crucial role in the development of the grand Russian ballet tradition, and his compositions continue to be performed by ballet companies around the world.

#3 Adolphe Adam (1803–1856)

Adolphe Adam was a French composer who made significant contributions to both opera and ballet. He is most famous for composing the ballet Giselle (1841), which is considered one of the greatest romantic ballets of all time. Adam’s music for Giselle is noted for its expressive melodies, atmospheric orchestration, and its ability to convey deep emotion, all of which perfectly complement the tragic love story of the ballet.

He also composed other successful ballets, such as Le Corsaire (1856). Adam was a prolific composer, writing more than 50 operas and several ballets during his career, but it is his work in ballet that has ensured his lasting legacy in the world of classical music.

#4 Léo Delibes (1836–1891)

Léo Delibes was a French composer who played a pivotal role in the development of ballet music in the late 19th century. His ballets Coppélia (1870) and Sylvia (1876) are among the most enduring works in the ballet repertoire, known for their elegance, melodic richness, and vibrant orchestration.

Delibes brought a new level of sophistication to ballet music, treating it as an art form equal to opera and symphonic music. His influence extended to other composers, including Tchaikovsky, who admired Delibes’s ability to create music that was both danceable and artistically satisfying. Delibes’s contributions helped elevate ballet music to new artistic heights, and his works remain central to the ballet canon.

#5 Cesare Pugni (1802–1870)

Cesare Pugni was an Italian composer who became one of the most prolific and influential ballet composers of the 19th century. After establishing his career in Italy, Pugni moved to Russia, where he became the principal composer for the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg.

He collaborated extensively with choreographer Marius Petipa, creating music for many successful ballets, including Esmeralda (1844), The Pharaoh’s Daughter (1862), and Ondine (1843). Pugni’s music is characterized by its dramatic expressiveness, rhythmic drive, and adaptability to the demands of ballet choreography. His work laid the foundation for the grand Russian ballet tradition, and though some of his ballets have fallen into obscurity, his influence on the genre remains significant.

#6 Alexander Glazunov (1865–1936)

Alexander Glazunov was a Russian composer whose contributions to ballet include the renowned works Raymonda (1898) and The Seasons (1899). A student of Rimsky-Korsakov, Glazunov’s music is marked by its lyrical beauty, rich orchestration, and elegant craftsmanship. Raymonda, in particular, is celebrated for its sophisticated musical structure and vibrant character, making it a staple of the classical ballet repertoire.

Glazunov also served as the director of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he influenced a generation of Russian composers, including Dmitri Shostakovich. His ability to blend traditional Russian musical elements with the demands of ballet choreography made him one of the most respected composers of his time, and his ballets continue to be performed by leading companies around the world.

#7 Marius Petipa (1818–1910)

Marius Petipa was a French-born ballet master and choreographer who became one of the most influential figures in the history of classical ballet. While not a composer himself, Petipa worked closely with many of the greatest ballet composers, including Ludwig Minkus, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Cesare Pugni, to create some of the most iconic ballets of the 19th century.

His choreography for works such as The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and La Bayadère set the standard for classical ballet technique and performance. Petipa’s detailed and innovative choreography, combined with his ability to collaborate effectively with composers, helped to elevate ballet to a high art form, influencing generations of dancers, choreographers, and composers.

#8 Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)

Igor Stravinsky is widely regarded as one of the most important and revolutionary composers of the 20th century, particularly known for his groundbreaking work in ballet. His collaboration with the Ballets Russes and choreographer Sergei Diaghilev produced some of the most iconic ballets of all time, including The Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911), and The Rite of Spring (1913).

The Rite of Spring was particularly notable for its avant-garde structure, complex rhythms, and use of dissonance, which famously caused a riot at its premiere in Paris. Stravinsky’s music for ballet introduced new forms and techniques that challenged traditional boundaries and profoundly influenced the future of both ballet and orchestral music. His work remains a cornerstone of modern ballet repertoire.

#9 Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)

Sergei Prokofiev was a Russian composer who made significant contributions to ballet music, with Romeo and Juliet (1935–1936) being his most famous work in the genre. Romeo and Juliet is celebrated for its lush melodies, dramatic intensity, and the way it captures the emotional depth of Shakespeare’s tragedy.

Prokofiev also composed other notable ballets, including Cinderella (1940–1944) and The Prodigal Son (1929). His music for ballet is known for its vibrant orchestration, rhythmic drive, and ability to convey narrative through musical expression. Prokofiev’s innovative style helped to redefine ballet music in the 20th century, making him one of the most important composers of his time.

#10 Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)

Maurice Ravel was a French composer known for his exquisite orchestration and refined sense of color, which made his music particularly suited to ballet. His most famous ballet work is Daphnis et Chloé (1912), composed for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. The ballet is often described as Ravel’s masterpiece, with its lush harmonies, sensuous melodies, and impressionistic orchestration creating a vivid, dreamlike atmosphere.

Ravel’s ability to blend impressionistic soundscapes with classical forms also made his works popular in the ballet world. His music continues to be a favorite among choreographers and dancers, and Daphnis et Chloé remains a staple in the ballet repertoire.

#11 Erik Satie (1866–1925)

Erik Satie was a French composer and pianist whose eccentric and innovative approach to music had a lasting influence on 20th-century avant-garde music, including ballet. Satie’s collaboration with Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso on the ballet Parade (1917) for the Ballets Russes marked a significant moment in modernist ballet.

The music for Parade is noted for its use of unconventional instruments, such as typewriters and sirens, and its playful, ironic style. Satie’s work challenged traditional notions of ballet music, introducing elements of surrealism and absurdity. Although Satie composed relatively little for ballet, his influence on the genre was profound, particularly in his ability to integrate visual art, literature, and music in a unified artistic vision.

#12 Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)

Francis Poulenc was a French composer known for his wide-ranging output, including several important works for ballet. His ballet Les Biches (1924) is one of his most celebrated contributions to the genre, commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes. Les Biches is known for its lively, light-hearted character and its blend of neoclassical and modernist elements.

Poulenc’s music for ballet often combines wit, elegance, and a distinctively French sensibility, making it appealing to both audiences and choreographers. In addition to Les Biches, Poulenc composed other ballets such as Les Animaux modèles (1942), which further showcased his versatility and creativity in the genre.

#13 Aram Khachaturian (1903–1978)

Aram Khachaturian was an Armenian-Soviet composer whose music is renowned for its vibrant rhythms, bold orchestration, and incorporation of folk elements. His most famous ballets are Spartacus (1954) and Gayaneh (1942). Gayaneh includes the famous Sabre Dance, one of the most recognizable and popular pieces in the classical music repertoire.

Khachaturian’s music for ballet is characterized by its energetic drive, dramatic intensity, and rich orchestral color, making it particularly well-suited for the dynamic demands of ballet choreography. His work helped to bring a distinctive Armenian flavor to Soviet music and ballet, and his ballets continue to be performed by companies around the world.

#14 Manuel de Falla (1876–1946)

Manuel de Falla was a Spanish composer whose music is deeply rooted in the folk traditions of Andalusia, which he skillfully integrated into his compositions for ballet. His most famous ballet, El sombrero de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat) (1919), was composed for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and is celebrated for its vivid evocation of Spanish culture, including flamenco rhythms and traditional Spanish dances.

Falla’s music is known for its rhythmic vitality, colorful orchestration, and ability to convey narrative and emotion. His work on El sombrero de tres picos helped to bring Spanish music and dance to the forefront of the international ballet scene, making him one of Spain’s most important composers.

#15 Paul Dukas (1865–1935)

Paul Dukas was a French composer best known for his orchestral work The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but he also made significant contributions to ballet music. His ballet La Péri (1912) is a one-act piece that showcases his skill in orchestration and his ability to create a vivid, magical atmosphere.

La Péri is considered a masterwork of French ballet music, known for its rich textures and exotic harmonies. Dukas was a perfectionist, and his output was relatively small because he destroyed many of his compositions that did not meet his high standards. Despite this, La Péri remains a significant work in the ballet repertoire, celebrated for its blend of classical structure and impressionistic color.

#16 Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)

Dmitri Shostakovich was a Russian composer whose work spanned various genres, including ballet. His ballets, such as The Golden Age (1930), The Bolt (1931), and The Limpid Stream (1935), are known for their satirical and politically charged content, reflecting the complex relationship between the artist and the Soviet state. Shostakovich’s ballet music is marked by its bold orchestration, sharp rhythms, and often ironic tone, which conveyed both humor and critique.

Although his ballets were not as widely performed as his symphonies, they are important examples of Soviet ballet music, showcasing Shostakovich’s ability to blend traditional forms with modernist elements. His work in ballet contributed to the broader cultural landscape of the Soviet Union and remains an important part of his legacy.

#17 Béla Bartók (1881–1945)

Béla Bartók was a Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist who made significant contributions to ballet music with works like The Wooden Prince (1917) and The Miraculous Mandarin (1926). Bartók’s music is characterized by its incorporation of Hungarian folk elements, complex rhythms, and a unique harmonic language that often included dissonance and modality.

The Wooden Prince is a fairy-tale ballet that displays Bartók’s lyrical and colorful orchestration, while The Miraculous Mandarin is a more modern, violent work that explores darker themes. Bartók’s ballet scores are known for their originality and for pushing the boundaries of traditional ballet music, making them significant in the evolution of 20th-century music and dance.

#18 Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990)

Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, conductor, and pianist whose contributions to ballet include Fancy Free (1944) and Dybbuk (1974). Fancy Free was Bernstein’s first ballet score, created in collaboration with choreographer Jerome Robbins, and it became an instant success, blending jazz, classical, and popular music elements.

The ballet tells the story of three sailors on shore leave in New York City and is noted for its energetic, rhythmic vitality. Dybbuk, a later work, is a more somber and complex ballet, drawing on Jewish folklore and featuring a darker, more dramatic score. Bernstein’s versatility as a composer is evident in his ballet music, which remains popular for its innovation, energy, and emotional depth.

#19 John Adams (b. 1947)

John Adams is an American composer associated with minimalism and post-minimalism, known for his vibrant and often politically themed compositions. His contribution to ballet includes The Chairman Dances (1985), an “outtake” from his opera Nixon in China, which has been choreographed by several leading choreographers. The piece is characterized by its driving rhythms, repetitive structures, and lively, dance-like quality, making it a popular choice for ballet.

Adams’s music often blends minimalist techniques with more traditional harmonic and melodic structures, creating works that are both accessible and innovative. His contributions to ballet, while fewer compared to his operatic and orchestral works, have made a significant impact on contemporary dance.

#20 Philip Glass (b. 1937)

Philip Glass is one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century, known for his development of the minimalist style. His work in ballet includes Glass Pieces (1983), choreographed by Jerome Robbins for the New York City Ballet. Glass Pieces is celebrated for its rhythmic energy, repetitive structures, and the way it blends classical ballet with contemporary music, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for audiences.

Glass’s music, with its focus on repetition and gradual change, has influenced a wide range of artistic disciplines, including dance. His collaborations with choreographers have helped to redefine modern ballet, making his work a significant part of the contemporary ballet repertoire.

#21 Aaron Copland (1900–1990)

Aaron Copland was an American composer known for his ability to capture the spirit of American life in music. His ballets, such as Appalachian Spring (1944), Billy the Kid (1938), and Rodeo (1942), are iconic works that reflect the landscapes, folk traditions, and pioneering spirit of America. Appalachian Spring, in particular, is one of the most beloved pieces of American classical music, known for its simplicity, warmth, and use of the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts.”

Copland’s ballet music is characterized by its clear, open textures, folk-inspired melodies, and rhythmic vitality, making it both accessible and deeply expressive. His contributions to ballet helped to establish a distinctly American voice in classical music and remain central to the repertoire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which composer is most associated with classical ballet and wrote the music for Swan Lake and The Nutcracker?

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is the composer most associated with classical ballet, having written the iconic scores for Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. His music is central to the ballet repertoire and remains immensely popular.

Who composed the revolutionary ballet The Rite of Spring that caused a riot at its premiere?

Igor Stravinsky composed The Rite of Spring, a ballet that revolutionized music with its complex rhythms and dissonances, leading to a famous riot at its 1913 premiere. It is now considered one of the most important works of the 20th century.

Which French composer is known for his ballet Coppélia, one of the most enduring works in the ballet repertoire?

Léo Delibes is known for composing Coppélia, a ballet that has remained a staple in the repertoire due to its charming melodies and lively orchestration. Delibes’ work helped elevate the artistic status of ballet music.

Which composer integrated Armenian folk elements into his ballet scores, including the famous Sabre Dance from Gayaneh?

Aram Khachaturian integrated Armenian folk music into his ballet scores, most famously in Gayaneh, which includes the popular Sabre Dance. His music is known for its rhythmic energy and vibrant orchestration.