‘Giselle’ performance part of Ballet West’s 40th Anniversary Season
Ballet West’s rendition of “Giselle” will be the next offering from the Ellen Eccles Theatre Presents season to hit Logan on Oct. 8 and 9.
Performances start each night at 7:30 p.m. This will be the first time in nine years that a full-length ballet has been performed in Logan by the group. The show is part of the group’s fortieth anniversary season.
“The thing about “Giselle” that is so nice is that it’s a two act ballet with all the elements that people love to see in a story ballet,” said Lisette Miles, Cache Valley Center for the Arts executive director and former Ballet West dancer. “There’s a wonderful opening act that is vibrant and spirited, then the second act is very ethereal and otherworldly with long white romantic tutus, an element that really epitomizes ballet for a lot of people.”
According to a press release, the ballet tells the story of a young Duke Albrecht who falls in love with Giselle, a peasant girl, although she believes him to be only a villager. Through the efforts of her suitors, Loys, Giselle learns of Albrecht’s true identity, and of his engagement to the Princess Bathilde. In her madness, Giselle relives her love for Loys, and seizing his sword, she makes as if to kill herself, and then dies.
The second act opens at Giselle’s gravesite. It is midnight, the hour when the “Wilis,” maidens who have died before their wedding day, rise from their tombs. Should any man encounter these spirits, they will dance him to death. When Albrecht arrives to bring flowers to Giselle, The Wilis fall vengeful upon him and he is condemned by Myrtha, the queen of the Wilis, to dance until he dies. Giselle pleads for her love, but must submit to Myrtha’s power and can only sustain Albrecht throughout the night. As dawn breaks the Wilis lose their power and fade away and Albrecht is spared. Giselle returns to her grave having saved Albrecht’s life.
“There’s love, there’s tragedy, there’s betrayal – all these wonderful elements come together,” Miles said.
Jonas KÃ¥ge, artistic director for Ballet West, will also give a free pre-performance lecture at 6:30 p.m. each evening.
“This is really a chance to learn everything you’d ever want to know about the ballet,” Miles said. “This is his production, and he’ll provide insights that will help people understand exactly what is happening.”
Tickets for the show are $30, $26 and $20, but a 25 percent student discount is available with a current ID card. Tickets may be purchased at the box office for the theatre, located at 43 S. Main St. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the show or the others being offered this season visit the Cache Valley Center for the Arts Web site at www.centerforthearts.us.
Ballet West was founded by Willam F. Christensen in 1963 as the Utah Civic Ballet. KÃ¥ge joined Ballet West in 1997.
-jwsterz@cc.usu.edu