The Femmes De Force in GISELLE
Written by Leilani Tian
There’s no doubt our society is transforming faster than ever before. While the rate of technological development shows no sign of slowing down, what we can count on is the timelessness and universality of human emotions. The power in art lies in its ability to capture the authenticity of the human spirit. Perhaps that is why GISELLE, a ballet choreographed during the 19th century Romantic Era is still beloved today — almost two centuries later. The ballet captures human themes of love, forgiveness, betrayal, solidarity, and sacrifice in a way words cannot.
GISELLE is a particularly fitting way to conclude Ballet Austin’s 2018/2019 Femmes De Force (“women of strength”) season through its illumination of layered female stories and the strength to be found in them.
Here’s a look at three powerful female roles in the GISELLE and what makes these characters and what they experience relevant today.
BERTHE
Giselle’s weak heart mixed with her love for dancing and socializing puts her mother, Berthe, in a tough spot. While Berthe wants Giselle to experience all that she can on her own, she is concerned about Giselle’s health and yearns to protect her from difficult situations that could break her. Raising a child consists of compromise and a balance between holding on and letting go. Being a parent means allowing the child to make her own decisions and learn from her mistakes. It also means being a supporter — a guiding voice and protector — when the child isn’t ready for the harsh realities of life. Berthe is constantly balancing her desire to allow her tender-hearted daughter to see the world for herself while wanting to keep Giselle’s emotional and physical health in check.
In GISELLE’s Act I, Berthe’s motherly love puts her on an emotional roller coaster. As Giselle faces trials and tribulations, from a weak heart to misguided love, Berthe also faces challenges in filling the role of protector and caregiver. After Giselle’s death, Berthe wrestles with intense grief. If you are a parent, or if you have cared for someone, you may see yourself in Berthe.
GISELLE
At first glance, Giselle is a naive, young, impressionable peasant girl madly in love with the sophisticated Albrecht. Act I forces Giselle to face some heart-breaking truths, from her physical limitations to the duplicity of her new beau. Giselle faces testing questions before and after death that embrace themes of forgiveness, love, and sacrifice. She must decide if her love for Albrecht is sufficient to forgive him while also choosing whether to protect him from the condemnation of her new of her soul circle, The Wilis. She goes from girlish fantasies to womanly troubles while leaving the earthly plane for the spiritual one.
Finding the strength to forgive the unforgivable is still an important lesson today, as is having the courage to go against the crowd.
THE WILIS
With an intractability and a determination to bring justice to those who have caused them terrible pain, The Wilis dance men to death under the jurisdiction of the judge, jury and executioner, Myrtha, who is their queen.
While each Wili has likely had a unique encounter with heartbreak or misfortune, they all relate to one another through shared pain and bond forever through common experience. They’re feminine but not fragile — ethereal but rock solid in their commitment to cause. You can see strength in their numbers and through their precise movements and formations.
The Wilis story is one of shared struggle, found sisterhood, and of the power of mutual support. Strength through solidarity holds eternal appeal.
Ballet Austin concludes its 2018/19 Femmes De Force season this Mother’s Day weekend, May 10–12, with GISELLE. For show information and tickets starting at $15, visit https://balletaustin.org/performances/giselle2019
