The American Ballet Theatre Mesmerizes with Performance of Giselle in Chicago

The city of Chicago and the Roosevelt Theater had the distinct pleasure of hosting the American Ballet Theatre’s limited engagement performance of Giselle from March 22 – March 25, 2012. 

The night of the performance was nothing less than glamorous.  The shimmering gold-plated theatre was filled with ladies and gentleman dressed in their finest, buzzing in anticipation for what would turn out to be an absolutely breathtaking performance.  

The ballet was elegantly and poignantly executed by the entire cast – but the rendition of Giselle, danced by Soloist Xiomara Reyes, stole the show.  While her technique seemed lacking for such a significant leading role, her outstanding emotional performance vindicated her casting as the young love stricken Giselle. Reyes entranced and transported the audience back into time and imagination.  Enrapturing them with romantic moments filled with profound and joyous love, and dragging them with her in the final spiral of pain and desperate emotion that lead to her untimely and heart wrenching demise.   

Since its first performance in 1841, Giselle has been one of ballet’s most well-known and often performed tales of unrequited young love.  Yet the American Ballet Theatre’s production managed to successfully relate the emotion and meaning of this age old French ballet to the modern audience through the timeless language of dance and the expert live musical accompaniment of the Chicago Sinfonetta.