Stories by Hans Christian Andersen are often Christian allegories in disguise, circling around themes of desire, the body, and one’s immortal soul. They don’t usually end well, and Andersen’s The Little Mermaid numbers among his saddest tales. Like so many young women today, this mermaid is unhappy with the body nature gave her: she wants to trade her fish tail for human legs. As a human being, she can pursue her love for the prince, whom she saved from drowning. In 2005, John Neumeier, artistic director of the Hamburg Ballet, choreographed The Little Mermaid for the Royal Danish Ballet. The work now debuts at the Joffrey. This full-length ballet has an original score by Lera Auerbach, and is the largest production the Joffrey has ever mounted. —Laura Jacobs