Jose Navas is finishing his three-year residency at Ballet BC with his own contemporary masterpiece.
Navass world premiere of Giselle takes the original classical score by Adolphe Adam but views it through a modern prism, creating a palette of both delicate and athletic movement.
During a recent rehearsal, even without costumes and the highly anticipated animated set, the corps de ballet lit up the marley dance floors with their elongated lines and daunting fluidity. Despite the bare-bones setting, the dancers did justice to the power of the music and the strength of contemporary ballet.
The classical story of Giselle follows a 15-year-old girl who falls in love with a nobleman who is, in fact, already engaged. Realizing his love is unattainable, she dies of a broken heart. The second act shows Giselles soul joining a community of women who lure men into dancing to their death.
This is the most romantic ballet in history; it is like the Hamlet of theatre, said Navas. It is a love story and the sense of the afterlife.
But Navas has added a twist. The love triangle in this Giselle is different. Instead of Giselle falling in love with Albrect, the man who is engaged, we have two male lovers and Giselle falls in love with one of them. So we have a gay romance in this story, he said.
That is my take on Giselle. But it remains a love story and it remains very close to the classical version.
Navas connection with the dancers is poignant. Giselle, his first story ballet, was choreographed and taught to the cast in 12 days.
The amount of work that these dancers put into this piece, and the amount of creativity and passion, and dedication for Giselle, leaves me extremely touched and in awe. They are the ones that are giving life to the piece. It doesnt belong to me anymore it belongs to them, says Navas.
During rehearsal, the corps de ballet were dressed in warm-ups and leotards, and yet the dynamic of evocative movement and expression brought vitality to the story as if they were already on stage.
There is a long standing lineage of principal dancers who have done this role and I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to touch this character, says Maggie Forgeron, who will be dancing the lead role of Giselle on April 26.
I am really excited for Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»audiences to see the individuality we have all brought to this piece. I feel like there is lots of freedom and room for me to insert myself into the character personally and I am really excited to debut my version, said Forgeron.
I have been so privileged to get to know this city during my residency. I got to know the most exciting, healthy and beautiful places to live and the audiences here have been so warm and I hope I can earn the trust they have put on me, with Giselle, Navas says.
Ballet BCs world premiere of Giselle is April 25-27 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets are $30 to $80 and available through or Ticketmaster.ca.
