Ballet’s Leading Ladies: Madly-in-love Giselle

In a dancing career that spanned three decades, Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde had the good fortune to portray the most fascinating lead characters to have ever graced the stage. This Women’s Month, we feature a series recalling Lisa’s notes on these iconic female figures – from Don Quixote’s feisty heroine Kitri to Swan Lake’s challenging dual roles of Odette and Odile – paired with choice photos from the Ballet Manila Archives collection.

Appearing as Giselle with the Kirov Ballet, 1986. “Giselle is one of the most sought-after ballerina roles not just because of the ballet’s technical demands but more so because of the dramatic intensity and interpretation that the role requires.”

Farewell performance of Giselle with Mikhail Martinyuk, Swan Song Series 2012. “Giselle is a peasant girl who falls in love with Albrecht, a prince who becomes restless for an adventure just before he is about to get married. Disguising himself, he courts an innocent peasant girl and makes her fall in love. At the end of the act, Giselle discovers the truth and loses her mind.“ Photo by Jojo Mamangun

The “mad scene” in Kirov Ballet’s Giselle, 1986. “I only understood how to dance Giselle maybe after my tenth or twelfth time of dancing the role. Because before, when I danced Giselle, I had never had my heart broken so I couldn’t really relate to going mad from a broken heart. I had the speed and I had the jump for Giselle but it took a while before I had her heart.”

Rudy De Dios as Albrecht is grief-stricken as Giselle dies before him, 2010. “When all the conditions are right, you actually feel the pain of betrayal as Albrecht kisses his betrothed’s hand. Everything else is a whirl as the music carries you on to dance till you die. I always feel a purging of emotions while doing this scene. It leaves me exhausted, and yet, unnaturally buoyant – just right for Act 2.”

Osias Barroso makes his debut as Albrecht in our full-length Giselle in Ulan-Ude, 1994. “Albrecht visits Giselle’s grave to beg her forgiveness but she has become one of the wilis, the souls of maidens who die from heartache. The wilis capture the repentant prince and command him to dance until he dies of exhaustion. Giselle pleads for him and dances with him until the sun comes up and the vengeful souls must return to their graves.”

That light-as-a-feather feeling as Giselle, 2012. “It is one of the most poignant roles I’ve ever danced. It demands the utmost energy and acting ability, because even when Giselle is dancing strenuously difficult parts, the ballerina must make it look like she’s a spirit floating lightly on air.” Photo by Jojo Mamangun

First full-length Giselle as a soloist with the Kirov, 1986. “My partner was Ravil Bagautdinov. I remember being so nervous that I couldn’t pluck and separate the petals in the first scene because my hands just wouldn’t stop shaking.”

With Osias Barroso in our first Giselle with Ballet Manila, 1999. “I grew to love the role because after all of the experiences dancing her and the coaching, I learned how to express her especially in Act 2. Giselle was a role I performed again and again and never got tired of because there are just so many different ways of interpreting her.” Photo by Ocs Alvarez

Dancing opposite Nonoy Froilan in my homecoming show from Russia, featuring Act 2 of Giselle, 1986. “Anyone who has fallen in love will definitely find Giselle irresistible. The beautiful haunting music of Adolphe Adam, combined with the timeless choreography of Coralli, Perrot and Petipa, make it one of the most romantic and popular classical ballets of all time. It is, I believe, every ballerina’s dream to dance the role of Giselle, not just once, but over and over again.”

Going mad in a farewell performance of Giselle, 2012. “If I ever had to choose my own favorite part in the whole ballet, it would definitely be the mad scene. Although given my own personality, I would most probably break off with Albrecht – maybe slap him for a dramatic scene – and then simply go on with my life if I ever found out he was lying to me all the while. But I do love the idea of going mad and dying of a broken heart.” Photo by Jojo Mamangun