The Los Angeles Ballet opens its 10th season with the performance of the romantic tragedy “Giselle,’ 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 1 at UCLA's Royce Auditorium.
Set against the backdrop of the German Rhineland, “Giselle” tells the story of a peasant girl whose weak heart gets in the way of her passion for dancing. Albrecht, the Duke of Silesia, is captivated by the beautiful Giselle and disguises himself as a peasant to conceal his identity and earn her love. Hilarion, a fellow villager who is also in love with Giselle, becomes jealous of the newcomer and warns Giselle to be wary of the stranger. He discovers that the peasant is in fact the Duke of Silesia and brings Giselle the Duke’s sword as evidence. Heartbroken by the news, Giselle continues to dance but dies due to the strain on her heart. In the afterlife, she continues to love the Duke but is pressured by the Wilis — vengeful female spirits that hunt men at night — to kill him.
For ticket information, visit UCLA Royce.
