The Australian Ballet’s regional tour of Giselle began in Tasmania this week and comes to Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre on July 11-12 and Albury Entertainment Centre on July 14 -15 at 7.30pm, with a 1.30pm show on July 15.

Since its premiere in Paris in 1841, Giselle has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world with its heartbreaking love story and impressive display of ballet technique.

The Australian Ballet Regional Tour, formerly known as The Dancers Company, has brought the enchanting and transformative experience of ballet to communities across Australia for more than 20 years.

The tour showcases the artistry and technical skills of artists of The Australian Ballet and graduating students of The Australian Ballet School.

“The regional tour is a fantastic thing to be a part of because you really get out into the regions where there’s a huge amount of appetite and enthusiasm for the arts,” Ballet Master and regional touring associate Steven Heathcote says.

Giselle follows the story of a village girl who falls in love with a man who is not all he seems.

When she discovers his deception, she dies of a broken heart. 

Transformed into a spirit, she is reunited with her lover in a forest haunted by the ghosts of jilted women, and must dance with him until dawn to save his life.

“If there’s people coming to see the performance who have not really seen ballet, it can be a bit like watching silent movies,” Heathcote says.

“The actions and expressions, the unspoken conversations between people, will be fairly obvious.

“You’ll understand what’s happening.”