The National Dance Company (CND) of the National Fine Arts Institute (INBA) is presenting performances of “Giselle,” romantic ballet masterpiece, at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.
The ballet, which employs the most refined theatrical techniques of the 19th century, will be performed Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
The ballet is part of the repertoire of the great ballet companies of the world, INBA said. The libretto “Giselle” was created during the romantic age, a product of the inspiration of the French poet, novelist and playwright Pierre Jules Theóphile Gautier. The choreography was developed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, and the music by Adolphe Adam.
The work premiered in 1841 in France and its plot is based on the German legend of the willis, young women in bridal dresses who died before reaching the altar and who appeared at midnight to cry over their pain and seek vengeance.
The love story combines two facets of romanticism, the pagan and the spiritual. During the first act, one of the most interesting moments is when Giselle, through the magic of dance, is transformed from a fresh country girl to a young woman betrayed by her lover Albrecht.
The deception causes Giselle to lose all reason and, later, life itself. The second act takes place in the cemetery of the village. The willis, dressed in their wedding gowns, avenge themselves on men by making them dance until they die.
In an interview with INBA, Tihui Gutiérrez, dance mistress of the National Dance Company, said that “Giselle” is a supremely important part of the repertoire of a classical ballet company and is the romantic ballet standard of excellence. She said the ballet is very important because it introduced dancing on the tips of the toes.
“For the National Dance Company this ballet is what ‘Hamlet’ is for actors,” she said. “It is a ballet that all of us dancers long to perform. Giselle has a fragility, a characteristic typical of romantic heroines.”
Among the ballerinas performing are Agustina Galizzi, Ana Elisa Mena, Blanca Ríos, Argenis Montalvo and Erick Rodríguez, and soloists Elisa Ramos and Sebastián Vinet.
A highlight of the show is the participation of Bellas Artes’ Theater Orchestra.
“It is always very moving and there is no comparing dancing to an orchestra to dancing to a recording,” she said.
Tuesday’s and Thursday’s performances will start at 8 p.m.
Saturday, the ballet will be performed at 7 p.m. without the orchestra.
And Sunday the performance will be at 5 p.m.