@giselle: Modernizing a Classic Ballet
Giselle is one of the oldest and most iconic ballets - if you are remotely involved in dance you know it well, and even if you think that you’ve never heard of it, the music generates familiar sparks in the back of your memory. Adapting such a beloved ballet for the modern era poses a challenging task. Joshua Beamish took on this challenge with his new interpretation, @giselle, which brings the story of Giselle to the present day.
Originating from "Reimagining Giselle," a shorter work commissioned by The Royal Ballet in London, this full-length narrative production will be brought to life by some of the brightest stars in the ballet world. Betsy McBride, soloist with American Ballet Theatre, will perform the title role of Giselle, alongside Harrison James, principal dancer with The National Ballet of Canada, as Albrecht, and Sterling Baca, principal dancer with Philadelphia Ballet, as Hilarion. Fangqi Li from ABT will portray Bathilde, and Beverley Bagg, formerly with Ballet Frankfurt and PACT Ballet Johannesburg, will portray Berthe. The all-star ensemble will be supported by additional talented dancers from Canada and the US.
This innovative production explores connections between the original classical ballet and our understandings of love, sex, and relationships in a world mediated by dating apps, digital illusions, and fleeting encounters. Beamish takes the story's context on a contemporary and relatable journey, including transforming Albrecht's monarchical power into one of "Influencer" currency and social media clout.
The modern vision of this classic tale isn't limited to the plot - The show and choreography also incorporate groundbreaking visuals. @giselle features stunning animation and projection design by trans artist and activist Brianna Amore, along with motion capture technology. In a reinterpretation of a famous pas de deux in which Giselle's ghost haunts her male tormentors, motion-captured holograms projected onto live dancers create a haunting tension between live and digital realities.
This unique and innovative show is a must-see for ballet lovers and anyone seeking a modern and approachable dance performance with a strong and important message.
@giselle will run on May 18th & 19th at at 7:30pm at The Gerald W. Lynch Theater, co-presented by The CUNY Dance Initiative and The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street, NYC). The opening night performance & celebration reception will be on May 18th, with tax-deductible charitable tickets available: https://tickets.broadwaycares.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ticket.start&eventID=718.
Tickets for the show range between $55/$45/$35 (plus applicable fees) and $15 student tickets with promocode: GISELLESTUDENT
To purchase visit: www.joshuabeamish.com
