In pictures: American Ballet Theatre’s Coppélia comes to Abu Dhabi

In 1997, however, the company revised and restaged its production, creating a piece more in keeping with the original from 1870. It was this that was presented at Emirates Palace. Photo by Satish Kumar / The National

The story is simple: the lonely toymaker and inventor Dr Coppelius surrounds himself with life-size clockwork dolls; his favourite is Coppélia, who at the start of the ballet is posed on his balcony as if reading. Franz (Herman Cornejo), a young townsman, catches sight of her and becomes infatuated, forgetting his fiancée Swanilda (a divine Misty Copeland). Photo by Satish Kumar / The National

The ballet is in three acts, and the middle act is easily the best — not least because its narrative is the most immediately understood. Photo by Satish Kumar / The National

The first and third acts are extended celebrations of impending wedding and marriage achieved, and contain some of the night’s most captivating dancing, but their actual narrative content is small. Photo by Satish Kumar / The National

Gillian Murphy, center, of Coppélia. Courtesy Marty Sohl

Xiomara Reyes and Ivan Vasiliev of American Ballet Theatre of Coppélia. Courtesy Rosalie O’Connor

The American Ballet Theatre presented Coppélia at the Emirates Palace for Abu Dhabi Festival. All Photo by Satish Kumar / The National.