While he was born in France, his career was largely spent in Russia, where he became a leading figure in the development of Russian ballet. He is considered one of the most important choreographers of the 19th century.
Here are some details:
* Don Quixote: Petipa originally choreographed the ballet in 1869, though it was later revised and expanded.
* Swan Lake: Petipa collaborated with Lev Ivanov on the choreography for Swan Lake, first presented in 1877. Ivanov primarily choreographed the "White Swan" acts, while Petipa handled the "Black Swan" acts.