Giselle reimagined
Reimagining Giselle is a contemporary reworking of the classic ballet story Giselle, created by emerging choreographer Joshua Beamish as part of The Royal Ballet’s commitment to developing new choreographic talent. Staged in the Royal Opera House Clore Studio Upstairs, the classic work will be part of The Royal Ballet's draft works programme in the reimagining of the tale.
Reimagining Giselle explores how the relationships prominent in Giselle would develop if they were based in the twenty-first century which audiences reside in today. Taking place before three performances of The Royal Ballet’s full-length production, the dancers will wear their own practice clothes and the lighting will be kept very simple to focus on the theme and explore it. Royal Ballet dancers Olivia Cowley, Yasmine Naghdi and Nicol Edmonds will perform solos and pas de deux from the ballet, taking place on Friday 1, Saturday 9 and Friday 15 April.
Choreographer Joshua Beamish is one of today’s most cutting-edge contemporary dancers and choreographers. He has created and danced in Waltz Epoca with former New York City Ballet principal Wendy Whelan in Restless Creature, and is fast becoming recognised as a shining new talent. His opportunity to reimagine Giselle will see him both modify the movement but also modernise the interactions and personality traits of the characters. The influence of the twenty-first century on the ballet will largely impact the theme of deceit and the consequence of this.
Draft Works was traditionally an event in the Linbury Studio Theatre in which The Royal Ballet dancers and guest artists were invited to showcase their choreographic skills by presenting new, developmental works. During the Royal Opera House’s Open Up project to enhance the public spaces in the building, Draft Works will become a series of different events where choreographers from within and outside The Royal Ballet have the opportunity to try new choreographic ideas in draft form.