La Scala Ballet Company Delights Shanghai with Performance of “Giselle”
China News Service, Shanghai, March 21 (Reporter Wang Ji) The world-renowned La Scala Ballet, hailed as the “best spokesperson” for the Italian ballet school, has brought their mesmerizing performance of the classic ballet “Giselle” to the Shanghai Grand Theater. This marks the dance company’s only stop in mainland China on their current tour, where they will showcase four romantic ballet masterpieces.
With a history dating back nearly 250 years, La Scala Ballet is synonymous with classical ballet excellence. Having visited China previously in 2006 with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and in 2018 with “Don Quixote”, the company has returned to Shanghai with a different dance repertoire this time – “Giselle”.
Authored with inspiration from the works of Hugo and Heine, “Giselle” is a cornerstone of romantic ballet, portraying the story of a young woman’s journey from joy to heartbreak to ultimate sacrifice. The demanding choreography and emotional depth required of the dancers make “Giselle” a true test of their skills and expressiveness.
Leading the cast of this production are La Scala Ballet’s principal star dancer Nicoletta Manny and principal dancer Timofey Andryashenko Coe, portraying the roles of “Giselle” and “Albrecht” respectively. Interestingly, the last time they performed together in Shanghai for “Don Quixote”, they were still just a couple; now, they are married.
Speaking about his experience with “Giselle”, Timofey Andryashenko shared, “This ballet holds a special place in my heart as it was my first leading role, and I have grown immensely as a performer through this character. It is also the first ballet I have performed with Nicoletta Manny, and now she is my wife.”
The Shanghai audience is in for a treat as La Scala Ballet brings the magic of “Giselle” to life on stage, showcasing the timeless beauty and emotional depth of this classic ballet masterpiece.