This book investigates the original performance practices and narrative structures of five foundational ballets to challenge modern misconceptions about 19th-century dance. Authors Doug Fullington and Marian Smith utilize primary archival documents, including libretti and choreographic notations, to reconstruct the visual and dramatic experience of these works as they were originally presented in Paris and St. Petersburg. By analyzing these historical records, the authors argue that these ballets were more dynamic, violent, and narratively complex than contemporary interpretations suggest.

Experts and dance historians identify this work as a significant contribution to the field for its rigorous use of primary source material. Readers frequently note that the text provides a necessary corrective to modern performance traditions by highlighting the original intent of the choreographers and librettists.