English National Ballet at the Hippodrome (From Gazette Series)

English National Ballet at the Hippodrome

2:51pm Monday 9th November 2009 in

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REVIEW

Giselle by the English National Ballet

Bristol Hippodrome

THE audience seeing the English National Ballet’s Giselle at the Bristol Hippodrome last week were given an extra treat as the male members of the cast presented a 10 minute performance called Men Y Men before the show began. It was a contemporary piece, which proved that ballet is not just for women. They showed their strength and agility particularly in the solo parts when some of the cast performed effortless jumps and flexible movements.

As always the English National Ballet’s performance of the classic Giselle was lavishly staged with extravagant sets and beautiful costumes. The character actors were excellent at keeping the story going – a strange tale that it is. Giselle falls for a prince in disguise as a peasant and when she finds out she goes crazy and dies. From beyond the grave she is met by a group of haunting women called the Willis who spend their time luring men into dancing until they die. The Willis dominate the second half of the ballet and their wonderful ghost-like dancing is hypnotic and dazzling. They try to lure Giselle’s prince into their world and force him to dance but Giselle saves him despite her anger at him for betraying her.

This is truly a wonderful show for all ages, enchanting, romantic, haunting and beautiful and the English National Ballet have brought a traditional ballet back to life with flare.