Ballet presents a new working-class lens to a classic story
Photo courtesy of Deos Contemporary Ballet
Deos Contemporary Ballet will bring one of ballet’s most enduring stories to the Grand Rapids stage this November with Giselle, a new full-length production that places the beloved Romantic ballet in the world of New York City’s Lower East Side in the pre-labor reform era, 1906. Performances will take place November 13 at 7 p.m., November 14 at 7 p.m., and November 15 at 2 p.m. at the Union High School Performing Arts Center, 1800 Tremont Blvd NW in Grand Rapids.
First performed at the Paris Opéra in 1841, Giselle has continued to be performed by major companies around the world, inspiring generations of dancers and countless reinterpretations.
"It's impressive that a story created in 1841 still resonates with audiences worldwide," said Tess Sinke, Artistic Director, Deos Contemporary Ballet. "Giselle is an inherently simple narrative, with two well-defined acts that each feels like their own world. I wanted to find a way to bring the complexity of the characters to new heights in my reimagining for Deos Ballet."
Giselle is about what happens when love, power, trust and betrayal collide. It is a story about a woman whose life is shaped by forces beyond her control, and ultimately, whether forgiveness can break a cycle of hurt.
Deos Contemporary Ballet’s production takes that timeless story and breaths it into a new era, with additional layers of socio-economic complexity. Set in the garment district of New York’s Lower East Side in 1906, Giselle follows a young factory worker who falls in love with a man hiding a devastating secret. When his deception is revealed, Giselle’s world collapses.
“We are honoring classical ballet traditions while continuing to challenge ourselves artistically through contemporary storytelling, new works, and unexpected theatrical experiences,” said Sinke. “Each production begs audiences to feel something deeply — whether that’s wonder, heartbreak, laughter, or hope.”
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