Over a career spanning more than six decades, groundbreaking choreographer George Balanchine made ballet a modern art. From his early days in Russia to his trailblazing role as co-founder of New York City Ballet, Balanchine became one of the primary visionaries to shape the history of 20th-century dance. Premiering in 1967, “Jewels” is the choreographer’s only plotless work in three acts. The abstract ballet illuminates, with clarity and brilliance, the music of Faure, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky in its three movements — the romantic “Emeralds,” the jazzy, neoclassical “Rubies,” and the classically inspired “Diamonds.” “Jewels” literally shines, as the dancers’ costumes are imbued with the brilliance of the stone for which each section is named. Brought to life by the Ballet de l’Opera National de Paris, the splendid “Jewels” features opulent costumes and sets by renowned French designer Christian Lacroix.