description Giselle (Mats Ek) Overview
Mats Ek’s Giselle is a contemporary ballet based on the classic tale. It depicts the demise of Giselle, a peasant girl betrayed and heartbroken, who returns as a vengeful spirit. The choreography highlights the tragic consequences of infidelity within a rural Spanish landscape. This full-length work is primarily for audiences interested in modern interpretations of traditional narratives and those appreciating complex dramatic storytelling through dance.
help Giselle (Mats Ek) FAQ
How does Mats Ek's Giselle change the classic story?
Mats Ek keeps the emotional triangle of Giselle, Albrecht, and Hilarion, but reimagines the ballet in a modern psychological world. The second act is famously shifted toward an asylum-like setting rather than a traditional forest of Wilis.
When did Mats Ek make Giselle?
Mats Ek's Giselle premiered in 1982 with Cullberg Ballet. It became one of the best-known modern reinterpretations of a 19th-century ballet classic.
Is Mats Ek's Giselle set in Spain?
No. The familiar story is reworked through Ek's contemporary theatrical style, but it is not a Spanish-setting version of Giselle.
What makes Mats Ek's Giselle different from the Petipa-style version?
The classical version emphasizes pointe work, village romance, and the supernatural Wilis. Ek's version uses modern-dance physicality and makes Giselle's outsider status feel more psychological and social.
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