Giselle

A great romantic ballet soars onto the stage as Singapore Dance Theatre (SDT) presents Giselle this March at Victoria Theatre, with staging by Janek Schergen, after Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. Drawing audiences into a work that embodies elements of the Romantic period, Giselle is a ballet filled with mystery, otherworldly beauty, excitement, danger and death. As breathtaking as it is heartbreaking, Giselle tackles the gamut of human emotions, delving

into the darker shades of humanity, including elements of madness and revenge, thus making many critics refer to Giselle as ‘the Hamlet of ballets’.

With music by Adolphe Adam, Giselle – also known as Les Wilis – premiered in Paris in 1841 and is the oldest consistently-performed ballet in the world. A sought after role for many ballerinas, Giselle demands both exquisite technique and daring dramatic skills from the dancer. The first act is colourful, bright, optimistic and light, while the second act, ironically called the “white act” is much more formal, dark and unsettling. As Giselle, the prima ballerina handling this role has to switch dramatically and believably from a young and innocent maiden in Act 1, to, literally, a ghost of her former self in Act 2, where Giselle has died and turned into an embittered wilis – a female spirit whoexists to seek revenge on unfaithful and deceitful men.

The eponymous ballet tells of the tragic love story between a village maiden, Giselle, and a nobleman, Albrecht. Mesmerized by her beauty and innocence, Albrecht disguises himself as a peasant and promises eternal love to Giselle despite being betrothed to a Duke’s daughter, Bathilde. Soon after, she discovers his deceit, and driven by grief, she kills herself with Albrecht’s sword.

With love unrequited, she dies of a broken heart, much to the dismay of Albrecht who has only come to realize his true love for Giselle when he mourns for her at the tomb. In Giselle’s melancholic world of vengeance and despair, she transforms from an innocent lady to a wilis, who are spirits of betrothed maidens betrayed by their beloved loves on the night before their wedding.

This March, step out of reality and into this hauntingly beautiful performance of a classic and unforgettable ballet set to an evocative and lingering score with Singapore Dance Theatre’s Giselle.

Title : Giselle

Date : 11 March 2010 (Fundraising Gala Performance )

12 to 14 March 2010

Venue : Victoria Theatre

Time : 3.00pm (Sat & Sun matinee); 8.00 pm

Ticket prices : 11 March - $500, $300, $200, $150, $80

(Tickets are available from SDT office ONLY)

12 to 14 March - $88, $68, $48 (Through SISTIC and SDT)