"The Nutcracker" centers around a young girl named Clara. Clara receives a wooden soldier nutcracker as a gift, then dreams he becomes a handsome prince who saves her from a mouse king. The main characters are Clara, the Nutcracker, the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Clara is often in a long dress that resembles a little girl's pajamas. The Sugar Plum Fairy is seen in pastel tutus, whereas the Nutcracker and Mouse King require military-style tunics and headgear.
"Swan Lake" follows the love story between Prince Siegfried and Odette, the swan queen, as they navigate the treachery of evil Baron Von Rothbart and his daughter, Odile. Special costuming is required for the parts of Odile and Odette, as it is traditionally played by the same ballerina. Odette is costumed in brilliant white tutus and white feathered headdresses. Odile, the evil daughter, wears black costuming instead of white. Baron Von Rothbart and Prince Siegfried wear men's tights and regal tunics.
"Sleeping Beauty" tells the story of princess Aurora, who is cursed by the evil fairy Carabosse and made to sleep for a hundred years until Prince Florimund awakens her with a kiss and then kills Carabosse with the help of the Lilac Fairy. Aurora's costume is traditionally quite ornate, often handmade with embroidered silk and detailed with pink and white sequins and stones. The Lilac Fairy is dressed in a multicolored tutu of dark reds and greens and carries a thin, sparkling wand.
"Giselle" tells the story of Giselle, a peasant girl who falls in love with Prince Albrecht while he is disguised as a peasant. She dies from grief when she learns the truth but her spirit returns to protect Albrecht from vengeful ghosts called "Wilis" that punish evil men. During the first act, Giselle is typically dressed in a light-blue tutu and a dark-blue German-style bodice. In the second act, Giselle wears white tutus to indicate her presence as a spirit. Albrecht is dressed in a peasant's tunic in act one but a regal tunic in act two.