American Ballet Theatre - Giselle

If you go down to the woods today

Wildly successful in their quest to preserve and extend the great legacy of classical dancing, American Ballet Theatre has garnered the reputation as one of the greatest dance companies in the world ever since its formation in 1939. Experience one of their repertoire classics during their calling card adaptation of Giselle, the apex of romantic ballet modeled on the choreography of ballet masters Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa.

A heart-rending tale of unrequited love, betrayal, and forgiveness, Giselle uses exquisite style and kinetic grace to tell the story of the titular village maiden. Set in the Rhineland of the Middle Ages, it begins with the ensuing romance of the beautiful peasant girl Giselle and a humble villager named Loys. Unbeknownst to Giselle, her new paramour is actually a young nobleman in disguise, one who is already betrothed to another. A romantic triangle emerges that brings passion, death, and eternal love. 

Perfectly pitched between Corelli, Perrot and Petipa's marvelous choreography and Alphonse Adams' score, 'the Hamlet of ballet' never fails to entice, either on the first viewing or the 100th.