Marie Taglioni was a ballerina born in 1804. She and her father, the dictatorial Philippe, are credited with having invented the Romantic style of ballet: fairies, white tutus, dancing en pointe. This fictionalized version of Marie's real life explores the gap between her role onstage, where she is considered a great beauty, and that offstage, where she's a neglected ugly duckling. She marries a handsome nobleman who only wants her for her money; yet her own love for him sustains her thoughout most of her life. Running parallel to Marie's story is that of her maid, Lucette, who leaves service to become a successful courtesan in demimonde Paris.