Press Release: ROYAL BALLET NEWS - GISELLE REIMAGINED

[Jan McNulty]

GISELLE REIMAGINED AS PART OF THE ROYAL BALLET’S DRAFT WORKS PROGRAMME

1, 9, 15 April at 6.30pm

Royal Opera House Clore Studio Upstairs

Tickets £7.50

      

Reimagining Giselle is a contemporary reworking of the classic ballet by emerging choreographerJoshua Beamish, and is part of The Royal Ballet’s commitment to developing new choreographic talent.

Reimagining Giselle explores how the relationships in Giselle would play out in the world we inhabit today. Taking place before three performances of The Royal Ballet’s full-length production, the dancers wear their own practice clothes and the lighting is kept very simple. Royal Ballet dancers Olivia Cowley, Yasmine Naghdi, Nicol Edmonds and Matthew Ball will perform solos and pas de deux from the ballet in the intimate setting of the Royal Opera House Clore Studio Upstairs.

 

Joshua Beamish is fast gaining recognition as one of today’s most cutting-edge contemporary dancer/choreographers. He created and danced in Waltz Epoca with former New York City Ballet principal Wendy Whelan in Restless Creature which had its UK premiered in the Linbury Studio Theatre in 2014.

On Reimagining Giselle, Beamish comments ‘It's been interesting to look at updating a ballet as not just modifying the movement but also modernizing the nature of the interactions and personality traits of the characters. I considered the influence that the information age would have on the plot details of this particular story of deceit and of the consequences imposed by the reveal of its truth’.

 

Emma Southworth, Studio Programme Produce for The Linbury Theatre adds ‘During the closure of the Linbury for the Open Up redevelopment, we have an opportunity to develop Draft Works and our choreographic programme in new and exciting ways. We’re delighted to welcome Josh back to the Royal Opera House after his residency here last year to explore further the timeless attraction of Giselle.

− ENDS −

Notes to Editors

Draft Works in the Clore: Reimagining Giselle

Pre-show performances in the Clore Studio Upstairs

Friday 1, Saturday 9 and Friday 15 April at 6.30pm

Choreography                                           Joshua Beamish

Cast – Dancers of The Royal Ballet           Olivia Cowley, Yasmine Naghdi,  Nicol Edmonds, Matthew Ball

 

 

Draft Works

Draft Works was traditionally an event in the Linbury Studio Theatre in which 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, including the refurbishment of the Linbury Studio Theatre, 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.