Coming to the Vancouver Playhouse September 5-7, @giselle is a technology-driven, contemporary reimagining of the beloved classic ballet, presented by Joshua Beamish/MOVETHECOMPANY.
Born out of Reimagining Giselle, a shorter work commissioned by The Royal Ballet in London, UK, this full-length narrative work is brought to life by ballet superstars from American Ballet Theatre, The National Ballet of Canada, and Pennsylvania Ballet. Directed and choreographed by Vancouverite and company founder Joshua Beamish, this innovative production will explore the connections and parallels between the original classical ballet and our understandings of love, sex, and relationships in a world mediated by dating apps, digital illusions, and fleeting encounters.
“I am deeply honoured to bring together such a stellar group of dance artists from across North America to collaborate on such a timely production,” says Beamish. “@giselle is a careful examination of the evaporation of true romance in our culture. Utilizing cutting-edge motion capture technologies and screen projections of social media ephemera, this full-length work will challenge audiences to consider the ways that technology has leveraged an unexpected change upon the very nature of modern love and relationships, which now seem fueled by a disdain for accountability and an increase in personal narcissism.”
The original version of Giselle, which premiered in 1841 — by what is now known as the Paris Opera Ballet, is based on a German legend, and follows a young peasant girl’s journey through the many dimensions of love, betrayal, and heartbreak. @giselle updates the narrative to present day by telling the story of a character named Giselle who is betrayed, isolated, and ghosted by her romantic partner on social media.
Beamish’s work highlights the ways that social networks such as Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Facebook have profoundly changed the ways we meet, fall in and out of love. @giselle is a new vision of a classic tale that also touches on the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements.
Beamish has assembled a cast of some of the finest ballet artists from across Canada and the United States. The all-star ensemble brings together talent from American Ballet Theatre, The National Ballet of Canada, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet Edmonton, the Alberta Ballet Trainee Program and graduates from varied local dance training institutions such as Arts Umbrella, Richmond Academy, Pro Arte, Tri-city Dance, and SFU.
See how Joshua Beamish blends classic ballet with new media and technology for yourself as @giselle opens at Vancouver Playhouse, September 5, 6 and 7, 2019. Showtime is 7:30pm each night, pre-show talks by Beamish and guests take place from 6:30 – 7pm prior to each performance. Find tickets and more information visit joshuabeamish.com