Olympic Ballet Theatre presents Giselle for the first time since 2017, re-staged by Artistic Directors Oleg Gorboulev and Mara Vinson after Marius Petipa’s renowned choreography. Set to the evocative score of Adolphe Adam, this romantic masterpiece tells the haunting story of a young peasant girl deceived by her lover. After her untimely death, she is summoned by the vengeful Wilis, yet her enduring love and forgiveness save the man who betrayed her, leaving a timeless tale of passion, heartbreak, and redemption.

Estimated Performance Length: 2 hours
(Including one 15 minute intermission)

Ticket Price: $29–$52
(varies by age, performance time, and seating location)

STORY OF THE BALLET

ACT I

A village in the medieval Rhineland (Germany) is celebrating a bountiful grape harvest, and vine gatherers happily scurry to the fields. In one of the little cottages lives Giselle, an innocent young peasant girl whose fragile health is concealed by her joyous demeanor. Because Giselle was born with a weak heart, her mother, Berthe, is very protective of her daughter and guards her from unnecessary strain. Hilarion, the village gamekeeper, is deeply in love with Giselle, but while Giselle cares for Hilarion as a family friend, she does not reciprocate his romantic feelings

Albrecht, a young nobleman from Silesia, is spending the summer at his cottage in the village, living under the fake identity of Loys, a humble peasant. He becomes infatuated with Giselle and is determined to win her over. His attendant, Wilfried, urges Albrecht to abandon his plans to court this peasant girl, reminding the young noble that he is already betrothed to Bathilde, daughter of the Duke of Courland. Albrecht dismisses him and flirts with Giselle, who quickly falls in love. Witnessing the advances Loys makes on Giselle and seeing her return his affections, Hilarion intervenes in jealous desperation, warning her that Loys is untrustworthy. His words fall on deaf ears, but he vows to prove his suspicions that Loys is not who he claims to be.

A group of vine gatherers passes on their way back from the fields, and Giselle introduces them to Loys and invites them to dance, and she cannot resist taking part as well. Finding her daughter flushed and tired, Berthe scolds Giselle for dancing so much, and everyone goes their separate ways. Hilarion arrives and uses the dagger on his belt to break into Loys’s cottage to continue his investigation.

Following the sound of a hunting horn, a hunting party of nobles comes through the village seeking refreshment. Realizing this party includes his betrothed, Bathilde, and her father, the Duke, Albrecht quickly hides before he is recognized. Berthe instructs the villagers to set up a table and refreshments for the nobility. Giselle is fascinated by Bathilde and her elegant dress, while Bathilde, charmed by Giselle’s sweet innocence, gives her a necklace. In gratitude, Giselle invites Bathilde and her father to rest at her house. Meanwhile, the village is celebrating the wedding of a local couple and the whole village comes together to dance festive dances.

Hilarion halts the festivities by presenting Giselle with Albrecht’s sword, proving the true identity of Loys and exposing his deception. The entire village and visiting nobles are shocked at this revelation, and Giselle goes mad with inconsolable grief at her lover’s betrayal. She begins to dance wildly and erratically, ultimately causing her weak heart to give out, as she collapses and dies.

ACT II

Deep in the forest away from the village, Hilarion mourns at Giselle’s grave. However, as the night deepens, he is startled by the appearance of eerie apparitions, the Wilis. They are the restless spirits of jilted girls who died of a broken heart before their wedding day. The Wilis haunt the forest at night and, under the command of their queen, Myrtha, seek out men so they can exact their brutal revenge. The frightened Hilarion flees as the Wilis pursue.

Albrecht arrives at Giselle’s grave in deep remorse and begs for forgiveness. Giselle’s spirit appears before him, and despite his betrayal, her love for him is undiminished. However, she can only stay a few moments before disappearing to join the rest of the Wilis. Hilarion fails to escape and is trapped by the Wilis, who use their ghostly powers to force him to dance until he is exhausted. They then throw the helpless man to his death in the nearby lake.

Myrtha spots Albrecht and sentences him to the same fate. Both Albrecht and Giselle

plead to spare his life, but they are ignored, and Albrecht is forced to dance to exhaustion. However, the power of Giselle’s love frees Albrecht from the power of the Wilis. Albrecht and Giselle dance together until dawn, when the Wilis and their power vanish. Giselle’s spirit returns to her grave and, through the forgiveness that spared Albrecht’s life, her soul can now rest in peace.

CASTING

Giselle – Yasmin Arafe*

Albrecht – Guillaume Basso †

Hilarion – Wyatt Johnson

Berthe – Sophie Powell †

Peasant Pas – Jackie Iwamura and Franco Tavara*

Myrtha – Taylor Lim

* Trainee

† Guest dancer