Photo: Contributed
The Great Russian Ballet is coming back to Kelowna next month, and this time it will be performing “one of the most breathtaking ballet productions” in history.
Giselle, which was created in 1884 for the Imperial Russian Ballet, will be on stage at Kelowna Community Theatre for two performances on April 7. The times are 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and tickets can be purchased here.
“The audience in Kelowna is amazing and so much into ballet, reading the story during the performance and appreciating the beauty of it,” The Great Russian Ballet director Vio Balan says. “We were doing so well in sales that a week ago we decided to add a second show for our Kelowna friends who we will be delighted to see at our performances again.
“Enjoy a fantastic journey through epically decorated sets, fabulous costumes and a masterful choreography that leads the heart through this touching and deeply romantic love story.”
Giselle is about a young peasant woman seduced by a prince who hides his noble origins. It is soon discovered that the prince has a fiancee, and Giselle dies of a broken heart. She returns in the second act as one of the Wilis—the spirits of young women betrayed by their lovers—whose mission it is to dance any man they encounter to his death. When the prince visits Giselle’s grave, the story does not unfold how you would expect.
“With its irresistible combination of a heart-breaking story and exquisite choreography, Giselle is the perfect way to discover classical ballet,” Balan says.
Balan says two of the most accomplished dancers who have performed the role of Giselle are the “world-famous” Petra Conti and Nadya Ivanova, who are The Great Russian Ballet’s principal ballerinas. Ivanova, who trained in the historic Perm ballet academy and has performed most of the classical ballet principal roles on the biggest stages across the world, will be playing the role of Giselle in Kelowna.
“The role of Giselle is one of the most sought-after characters in ballet. It demands both technical perfection and outstanding grace, as well as great dramatic skill,” Balan says. “(Ivanova) will be joined by an all-star cast of 40 highly skilled ballet dancers, mostly from Moscow, all trained in the Vaganova method.”
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