A ballet in three parts, George Balanchine's Jewels was hailed as the first plotless full-length ballet. The three gems in the ballet pay tribute to three golden ages of dance and to the beauty of the ballerinas the composer adored.

"Emeralds" evokes France — the birthplace of Romantic dance. Its ballerinas drift on stage in clouds of tulle, reminiscent of the country's elegance and fashion.

"Rubies" mirrors the carefree spontaneity of America, a throwback to the musical comedies and films Balanchine created soon after he arrived in his adopted country.

"Diamonds" dazzles as the composer's tribute to the work of Marius Petipa. It depicts the grandeur, precision, and classical elegance of the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg.