The Georgia Ballet’s Giselle a Hauntingly Beautiful Tale

The Georgia Ballet  professional company dancers are in the studio and hard at work rehearsing for their upcoming production, Giselle, October 18-19, 2008.  The epitome of romantic ballet, Giselle is a poignant tale of unrequited love, remorse and forgiveness.  It is one of the oldest continually performed ballets, dating back to 1841, when it debuted in Paris.  Now, well over 150 years later, The Georgia Ballet is staging the performance for the opening of their 49th season.  Tickets range in price from $20-$35 and can be purchased online at www.georgiaballet.org  or by phone 770-528-0881.

This ballet-story takes place in a humble village where Giselle, a peasant girl, is in love with a nobleman in disguise, Albrecht.  She rejects the love of another peasant, Hilarion, whose jealousy contributes to the suspense and drama in the first act.  When Giselle learns that Albrecht is engaged to be married to the duke's daughter, she dies of a broken heart.

Upon dying, Giselle is transported to the supernatural moonlit land of the Wilis, where the restless spirits of girls whose love was unrequited are sent.  The malevolent queen, Myrtha, who reigns over the land of the Wilis, beckons the spirits to haunt the men that betrayed them.  As Albrecht arrives to lament over Giselle, only she can save him with forgiveness and compassion.

The theme of love beyond death is a very common one throughout history, but Giselle is more theatrical than most 19th-century ballets.  The music, libretto and beautiful choreography combined with the dramatic plot create a moving and coherent performance.  Mime passages supply the choreography with explanation of the story line.

Giselle, the opening of The Georgia Ballet’s 49th Season, is sponsored by Scana Energy and Marietta Toyota.  Performances are held at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta on Saturday, October 18,2008 ; 2pm and 7pm, and Sunday, October 19, 2008 2pm. Tickets range in price from $20-$35 and can be purchased online at www.georgiaballet.org or by phone 770-528-0881.

The Georgia Ballet, comprised of a professional dance company and a dance school, was founded in 1960.  The Georgia Ballet’s mission is to promote excellence in ballet performance and training, foster an increased public awareness and appreciation for dance, and provide dedicated and talented dancers with the opportunity for advanced level training and professional performance venues.