Les Orientales (ballet)

Les Orientales is a one-act ballet choreographed by Michel Fokine to music by various composers including Alexander Glazunov, Anatoly Lyadov, Alexander Borodin, Mikhail Glinka, Anton Rubinstein, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and Edvard Grieg. The ballet premiered on 25 June 1909 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, as part of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes' inaugural season.

The ballet is a suite of dances inspired by the Orient, evoking a generalized and somewhat romanticized image of the East rather than being based on any specific cultural tradition. The "orient" as depicted in Les Orientales is a composite of various exotic locales, expressed through movement and costume.

The costumes were designed by Léon Bakst. The sets were minimal, allowing the focus to remain on the choreography and the dancers. The ballet featured notable Ballets Russes dancers such as Tamara Karsavina, Vaslav Nijinsky, and Anna Pavlova in early performances.

Les Orientales was well-received for its vibrant choreography, exotic atmosphere, and the strong performances of the dancers. It became a popular piece in the Ballets Russes repertoire and was revived several times over the years, though often in adapted or excerpted forms. The original choreography has not survived intact, but fragments and descriptions provide insight into Fokine's vision.