The ballet was performed by Diaghilev 's Ballets Russes , with choreography by Nijinsky . The set design and costumes were by the archaeologist and painter Nicholas Roerich . The Rite of Spring , original French title , Le sacre du printemps , is a 1913 ballet with music by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky , original choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky , and original set design and costumes by archaeologist and painter Nicholas Roerich , all under impresario Serge Diaghilev .