Akram Khan’s Giselle by English National Ballet – Performance Film Screening in Abu Dhabi

Akram Khan’s Giselle by English National Ballet

A captivating reimagining of the iconic Romantic ballet, this production brings Giselle to life in a haunting, cinematic format.

Setting

• Divided World: Giselle resides in a community of migrant garment factory workers known as the Outcasts.
• Separation: A looming wall shuts them out from the wealthy Landlords who previously exploited their labor.

Plot

• Love and Betrayal: Giselle's secret love for Albrecht, who belongs to the Landlords, results in betrayal and heartbreak, leading to her tragic fate.
• Second Act: Giselle becomes one of the Wilis—ghostly women seeking revenge on men—and must choose between vengeance and forgiveness as Albrecht faces their wrath.

Production

• Choreography: Crafted by Akram Khan, featuring an intense and physical movement language.
• Music and Design: Set against Vincenzo Lamagna’s dark, reimagined score and Tim Yip’s monumental designs.

Experience

This film screening immerses audiences in a gripping narrative of love, exile, and redemption, presenting Giselle as a timeless story relevant to our era of borders and displacement.