Giselle

Kings International Ballet presents
Giselle

Originally choreographed by Jean Coralli & Jules Perot to the stirring music of Adolph Adam, this heartbreaking love story is brought to life in a spectacle of ethereal grace and beauty, promising a magical, yet moving, tear jerking, yet heart warming experience. 

Giselle is a tragic Romantic ballet about love, betrayal, redemption and forgiveness. The story follows the short life of a peasant girl “Giselle”. Dying of heartbreak before she is betrothed. She is therefore destined to join the other lost souls and return as a protective spirit to haunt the forest.

In Act I: The Mortal World The ballet opens in a medieval village during the grape harvest. Giselle, a youn g peasant girl has a weak heart. Despite her Mother’s warnings, she loves to dance. Count Albrecht, a nobleman, already engaged to another, disguises himself as a villager named "Loys" in order to court Giselle. They inevitably fall in love. Hilarion, the local gamekeeper, who is also in love with Giselle, discovers Albrecht’s true identity and reveals it. Realizing she has been deceived, Giselle becomes overwhelmed with grief and in her already weakened state, loses her sense of reality and dies in Albrecht’s arms. 

We take you to Act II: The Supernatural Realm At night, Giselle’s grave becomes the domain of the Wilis, (vengeful spirits of young women who died before their weddings). Led by the Queen Myrtha, the spirits force men to pay with their lives for their actions. Hilarion, mourning at Giselle’s grave, is captured and ultimately meets his end. Albrecht arrives to pay his respects, and Giselle’s spirit appears to him. Her love for him protects him from the wrath of Myrtha and the spirits. Pleading with Myrtha for mercy, she guides him to safety and sustains him through the night. As dawn breaks, the Spirits’ power fades, and Giselle returns to her grave, leaving Albrecht to mourn her loss.

Running Time: 60 mins