Croze would write the libretto for the ballet, loosely basing it on La fille mal gardée.

[3][4] Days before its premiere, Saint-Saëns reportedly told the publisher, Auguste Durand, "This short ballet will appeal because it is essentially joyful".

[4] The ballet consists of one act that is split into three tableaus:[4] The first tableau is set in the a village square, where there is a festival.

Jean waits for Javotte, the ballet's titular character, to arrive and declines the advances of other women.

Javotte is locked inside by her parents and forced to do chores but is repeatedly distracted by daydreams of her dances with Jean.