Ballet Giselle Research Paper

ANALYSE THE WAYS IN WHICH THE CLASSICAL BALLET GISELLE IS PRESENTATIVE OF THE PERIOD IN WHICH IT WAS CREATED. The classical ballet Giselle was created within the spectrum of the romantic era which was implemented from 1830 to 1850. Giselle was created upon the guidelines of the romantic era in which specific characteristics can be identified through out with the themes, technical innovations, costuming, and the rise of the ballerina. During the romantic era, new theatrical innovations were implemented which enhanced and developed performances for both dancers and audience. The innovations included trap doors, gas lights, house lights, sliding back drops, house curtain, the elegant romantic tutu and the pointe shoe. The ballet Giselle

This particular innovation used layers of darning to harden the tips of ballet flats creating the possibility to dance on the tips of the toes. As pointe shoes were worn by women alone they were highlighted and showcased for their talents. This created a rise in female leads which was showcased in Giselle as the females dominated the performance with intricate pointe work in solos and the female corps de ballet. The elegance of the pointe work, accompanied by a change in movement style, with the forward tilt, soft rounded arms and exciting footwork was a contributing factor to the rise of the female ballerina. Due to the ballets dominating female roles, Giselle came to be a representation of the upward progression of women in the romantic

The colour, design, quality and quantity of each costume determined the characters social class on stage. In the ballet Giselle the first group of dancers arrive in romantic designed costumes. For females this involved a tight bodice with puffed, rounded sleeves and a bell shaped tutu. The light, layered material moved effortlessly and projected elegance as they moved across the stage which related and enhanced themes found throughout the romantic era. As the male solo act arrives upon the stage he is dressed in a well maintained costume displaying his royalty through the quality, quantity and detailing. He carries a red royal cloak while dressed in tight fitted leggings. Once removing his royal cloak the prince reveals his romantic era white poet shirt which flows over the upper-half of his body with cuffed sleeves. The shirt is tucked into leggings which contains an airiness over the torso and the sternum. These shirts and leggings were worn by all men who danced throughout this period with only variations in detail and colour specific to their class in society. Costumes were made unique to each character as colour, detail, quality and quantity of the fabric differentiates. Those of a higher order were well embellished with jewels and expensive fabric which indicated they were placed highly among the social