Alice and Giselle dance from the heart
It’s a sure bet no one who saw the National Ballet’s first performances of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland last year went away disappointed.
A thrilling co-production between the National Ballet and the Royal Ballet, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, the genius of contemporary ballet, this show aims high: to delight children and adults alike.
Framed with a love story between Jack, a gardener, and Alice Liddell, inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice, the dance combines a witty and unexpected scenario by Nicholas Wright, with original music by Joby Talbot and eye-popping costumes, sets and video projections.
The show is pure ballet, with the National Ballet’s Jillian Vanstone and Guillaume Côté reprising their lead roles, and imaginative parts for 70 dancers. Twelve must-see performances run at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from Nov. 10 to 25.
Giselle is a classical ballet that fits in the repertoire as Hamletbelongs in classic theatre. The National Ballet’s version by Sir Peter Wright has been performed regularly since its premiere in 1970.
The ballet is based on a fairy tale about a peasant girl whose love for a disguised nobleman leads to madness and suicide. The dance of the Wilis, the spirits of betrayed young women, is captivating.
Albrecht, Duke of Silesia, a role elevated by Mikhail Baryshnikov and more recently the National Ballet’s then-principal Zdenek Konvalina, pairs with Giselle — a part for gazelle-like dancers such as the company’s beautiful Xiao Nan Yu — for pure ballet bliss.
Giselle runs Dec. 5 to 9 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.