Previously, the music that accompanied the dancers on stage had one main function - to set the rhythm and tempo. No attention was paid to other potential benefits of musical accompaniment.
This began to change with Marius Petipa's collaboration with Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Today, it's hard to find a person who doesn't associate musical motifs from Swan Lake or The Nutcracker with the Russian composer. Music on stage began to complement the dance show, adding mood and character.
