Act I

Scene 1

Young warriors led by Solor are coming back from the hunt. He asks them to leave him alone by the sacred fire. The noble warrior is madly in love with beautiful Nikiya, the temple dancer. He asks fakir Magedaveya to tell her that he will be waiting for her at night.

The High Brahmin and priests are solemnly leaving the temple. Fire worship ritual begins. Fakirs and bayaderes perform sacred dances, Nikiya being one of them. Her mesmerizing dance becomes the pinnacle event of the night. The High Brahmin is blown away by her beauty. Having forgotten of his ordination and vow of celibacy, the High Brahmin confesses his love to her and promises to place all the riches of India at her feet. Disgusted, Nikiya turns down his wooing. Magedaveya manages to tell the bayadere that Solor will come to meet her.

Solor and Nikiya finally meet at night. Their rendezvous is guarded by the fakir. By the sacred fire, the young warrior swears eternal love and loyalty to the girl. The High Brahmin overhears their conversation. He promises to take vengeance on the lovers.

Scene 2

Dugmanta tells his daughter Gamzatti that she is about to become the wife of the bravest warrior Solor. Gamzatti couldn’t be happier. Enters Solor. Raja releases the long-anticipated announcement and introduces the bride and the groom to each other. The warrior is confused: he cannot disobey raja’s word and cannot break the vow he gave to Nikiya, he loves her.

Enters the High Brahmin. Driven by revenge he tells Dugmanta about Solor and Nikiya. Raja is furious, but he won’t change his mind: his daughter will marry Solor and the bayadere will die. The High Brahmin didn’t expect this turn of events, he only wanted to eliminate the competition, not his loved one. The High Brahmin threatens raja with the rage of gods, but Dugmanta stands his ground.

Gamzatti tells her slave to bring Nikiya. Raja’s daughter overheard his father’s conversation with Brahmin and she’s willing to act. Gamzatti tells the bayadere about her upcoming wedding and asks her to dance at the occasion. Nikiya is flattered and happily accepts the offer. Pursuing her own interests Gamzatti intentionally shows her the groom’s portrait, who happens to be Solor.

Nikiya refuses to believe that: Solor swore his loyalty, Nikiya is the one he loves. Gamzatti demands that the bayadere give up on him. Nikiya would rather die than leave Solor. Infuriated, she draws a dagger and threatens Gamzatti. The slave barely manages to hold Nikiya back. Raja’s proud daughter swears to have the bayadere killed.

Act II

Scene 3

A feast dedicated to Solor and Gamzatti’s engagement is being held at a square by raja’s palace. Nikiya is supposed to entertain the guests with her dancing, but she cannot hide her grief, her eyes are fixed on her beloved Solor.

Fakir presents Nikiya a basket of flowers on behalf of Solor. This gift brings hope and joy to her dancing. Suddenly a snake crawls out of the flowers bringing death to Nikiya. She realizes that the flowers represent the vengeance of raja’s daughter. The High Brahmin promises to save her if she gives up on Solor, but Nikiya stands by her warrior and picks death.

Act III

Scene 4

Nothing can ease Solor’s pain, he’s racked by remorse. Fakir is trying to console his master to no effect. Finally, Solor loses himself in deep sleep. He sees the kingdom of the shades. They descend from the thrusts one after another, beautiful Nikiya being one of them.

Woken up he rushes to the temple, asking for forgiveness, but it’s too late. Enraged gods punish Solor for betrayal. The temple is obliterated under lightning and thunder.

Set in the Royal India of the past, La Bayadère is a story of eternal love, mystery, fate, vengeance, and justice.  The ballet relates the drama of a temple dancer (bayadère), Nikiya, who is loved by Solor, a noble warrior.  She is also loved by the High Brahmin, but does not love him in return, as she does Solor.

Act I

Scene I, Outside Temple in the Sacred Forest.

The High Brahmin, priests, and temple dancers are celebrating the Indian Ritual of Fire.  Nikiya, the most beautiful of the bayadères, has been chosen to be consecrated the lead temple dancer.  The High Brahmin declares his love for Nikiya, but is rejected by her.  Nikiya meets secretly with Solor later that evening.  They dance together and swear eternal love over the Sacred Fire, but are discovered by the jealous High Brahmin, who vows to kill Solor.

Scene II, A Room in the Palace.

The Rajah has decided to reward Solor’s valor and decrees that the warrior will marry his daughter, Gamzatti.  Gamzatti falls in love with Solor’s portrait, and when they meet, he is overwhelmed by her beauty.  Even though he has sworn eternal love to Nikiya, he cannot defy the wishes of the Rajah and agrees to marry Gamzatti.  The High Brahmin informs the Rajah of Nikiya and Solor’s secret love, hoping that the Rajah will do away with Solor.  Instead, the Rajah decides to kill Nikiya.

This conversation is overhead by Gamzatti, who summons Nikiya to her rooms and attempts to bribe Nikiya to give up Solor.  Refusing, Nikiya frantically attempts to kill  Gamzatti.  Nikiya flees and Gamzatti swears to destroy her.

Scene III, The Garden of the Palace.

At the betrothal of Solor and Gamzatti, Nikiya is commanded to dance.  Gamzatti presents her with a basket of flowers that Nikiya believes to be from Solor, and which conceals a deadly snake.  Nikiya is bitten, and when Solor leaves with Gamzatti, she refuses the proffered antidote and dies.

Act II. The Tent of Solor.

Solor, grief‑stricken and under the influence of opium, dreams of being reunited with Nikiya in the Kingdom of the Shades.  Awakening, he realizes that he must prepare to marry Gamzatti.

Act III. The Temple.

The vision of Nikiya remains with Solor as the wedding ceremony begins at the Sacred Temple.  As Solor and Gamzatti say their vows and are blessed by the High Brahmin, the vengeance of the gods is unleashed, and the temple and all the celebrants are destroyed.  Nikiya and Solor are once again united in eternal love.