One of the great romantic ballets, Giselle, first staged in Paris in 1841 and one of the oldest surviving ballets still in the international repertory, is a passionate story of how the power of forgiveness and redemption can overcome the anguish of love and betrayal.
The Royal New Zealand Ballet production of Giselle, to be staged at Dunedin's Regent Theatre this weekend, is choreographed by artistic director Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg, principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.
Both are noted performers of the leading male role of Albrecht.
The story of how Albrecht betrays the innocent village girl Giselle and causes her death, only to be protected by her spirit beyond the grave unfolds against the ghostly backdrop of a forest haunted by "Wilis", vengeful spirits of abandoned brides.
The ballet
• The Royal New Zealand Ballet's Giselle is at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill on November 20 and 21 and at the Regent Theatre in Dunedin on November 24 and 25. In Dunedin it will be accompanied by the Southern Sinfonia.
