Cigale (ballet)

Cigale is a ballet in one act with choreography by Marius Petipa and music by Riccardo Drigo. The ballet premiered on January 19, 1895, at the Imperial Theatre of Peterhof in St. Petersburg, Russia. The libretto was a reworking by Petipa of an earlier ballet, La Cigale, which he had staged in 1855.

The story concerns the tale of a grasshopper (Cigale) who is carefree and spends her time dancing, while the ants work diligently. In the winter, the grasshopper seeks shelter and food from the ants but is initially refused. Touched by her charm and dancing, the Queen of the Ants eventually takes pity on her and grants her refuge. The ballet emphasizes the themes of generosity, the consequences of laziness, and the importance of hard work.

The ballet was known for Drigo's score, considered by some to be one of his finest. The Valse Bluette from the ballet became a popular concert piece and was later used in other ballets. Cigale has been revived and restaged multiple times since its original premiere, though it is not as frequently performed as some other ballets from the era.