CBYE Media Releases - October 8, 2008

GISELLE

Sometimes in the blink of an eye there's genius.

A case in point was Ballet Nacional de Cuba's thrilling production of the Romantic Era classic Giselle. This dramatically rich, technically pure production was danced with such passion, such power, such brilliant understanding of what ballet ought to be about it outstripped any Giselle I've seen anywhere.

The young stars Viengsay Valdes and Felix Rodriguez (Anete Delgado and Ernesto Alvarez at Sunday's matinee) created a loveknot of drama that gave the ballet its beating heart.

Ernesto Diaz as Hilarion and Yanela Pinera as Myrtha Queen of the Wilis added dramatic heft. It was the perfect synchronous movement of the female corps in the final act that solidified Alicia Alonso's reputation for attention to detail and luminous staging.

If you missed this production you missed the highlight of the dance season. Every dancer from The National Ballet of Canada ought to have been at Hamilton Place to see how the real thing is done.