Written between 1594-1596, A Midsummer Night’s Dream was early in Shakespeare’s career. Thought to have been written for the wedding of a nobleman’s daughter, it is one of his strangest and most delightfully comedic works. The world is built around two different spheres: the court of Athens and a mystical fairy forest. In European folklore, Midsummer night has been associated with love and magic. It is the one night where fairies can interact with the real world. The play is an amalgamation of traditional stories and borrowed characters, creating a work with rich background and woven story lines. The first ballet adaptation was originally choreographed by George Balanchine, premiering in New York, 1962. The ballet features music by Felix Mendelssohn, which was first assembled for the Shakespearean play. Mendelssohn’s complementary score is self-contained and mystical in tribute to the magical atmosphere and comedic elements. Ballet Victoria’s choreography by Paul Destrooper emphasizes the comedic absurdity within a fairy world, all while embracing the polished fluidity found in the accompanied song. In poise and striking costume, the key dancers express the innate effects of possession, jealousy, and the irrationality of love and desire.