Bathilde is moved by Giselle’s charm and innocence. The peasants celebrate the end of the
crop season and crown Giselle as queen of the grape harvest. Hilarion, who has already
discovered Albrecht’s deceit, rushes into the dance. He takes advantage of the presence
of the Prince of Courtland and exposes the young Duke. Giselle, desperate, loses her mind
and dies.
Act II
Several peasants gather at Giselle’s grave in the woods, including Hilarion. They joke among
themselves and try to get Hilarion to join the group. He refuses, plunged into grief. It’s
midnight. The Wilis have left their tombs looking for men with whom they can dance until
death. Myrtha, queen of the group, initiates Giselle into their macabre sorority. Albrecht visits
Giselle’s grave and begs her forgiveness. The specters take Hilarion and vengeful Myrtha
orders Giselle to engage the young Duke in a mortal dance. But, her love for Albrecht has
gone beyond death, and she tries to save him. It’s dawn. The Wilis must vanish, and Giselle
has to return to her grave. Albrecht, saved by Giselle’s profound love, stays at her sepulcher,
mourning forever the absence of his beloved.
Giselle is performed in two acts: Act I: 55 minutes, Act II: 45 minutes.
About Ballet Nacional de Cuba
Founded in 1948 by Alicia and Fernando Alonso, Ballet Nacional de Cuba serves as the
resident professional classical ballet company for Cuba. Its school provides comprehensive
dance training in classical and folkloric forms, creating a unique Cuban style of classical
ballet performance.
About Alicia Alonso
Cuban ballerina Alicia Alonso attained the rare
rank of prima ballerina assoluta as the result of her
unparalleled career in classical ballet. She began her
studies with amenco dance in Spain, later training
in ballet in Havana and enrolling in the American
School of Ballet in New York City. She joined
George Balanchine’s Ballet Caravan and performed
with such esteemed companies as American Ballet
Theatre and Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo before
founding Alicia Alonso Ballet Company in Cuba.
Alonso ultimately took responsibility for bringing
the highest quality classical ballet training to Cuba
with the launch of Ballet Nacional de Cuba and its dance conservatory. Regarded as the
greatest living ballerina, Alonso’s signature role is Giselle, and she is the recipient of several
artistic distinctions including UNESCO’s Pablo Picasso Medal and a lifetime achievement
recognition from Prix Benois de la Danse.
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