"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time’ Thomas Merton, writer and mystic.
This is what I appreciate most about ballet; the fact that it transports me to another world of imagination, romance and fairy tales. It allows me to appreciate fairy tales, even as an adult, where everyone lives happily ever after.
The three ballets below cannot compete with the popular fairy-tales such as Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty, but the ones I have chosen are in my opinion some of the most romantic ballets. They nevertheless portray love, passion and romance, however, the characters don’t always live happily riding into the sunset. Making it slightly more realistic…
"La Sylphide’ is a ballet about a mythological spirit of the air who portrays weightlessness and the fluidity of romance. As the ballet unfolds we come across a Scottish groom who’s witnessed a Sylph floating in admiration towards him. The Scotsman falls head over heels for this mystical creature who is the product makings of an evil witch. His marriage foundered as he blindly fell for the idyllic Sylph in the depth of the forest. This ballet focuses on a heartbreaking story where an unattainable woman breaks up a marriage (which is a common reality).
"Coppelia’ is a very special ballet in its own right. The story revolves around Dr Coppelius who constructed a life-sized doll called Coppelia, whom he longs to bring to life with human qualities. The ballet embodies a mix of emotions ranging from attraction, envy, jealousy and true love. Dancers bring the ballet to life through the comedic moments of sudden attraction, romance and jealousy.
My Favourite of the three is "Giselle’, a transcending ballet which tells the tale of a girl who dies from a broken heart. As Giselle meets her grave from a great heartbreak, nymphs appear challenging her lover to dance until sunrise, which would normally lead to death. Giselle awakens and being such a pure and gentle character forgives her betrothed in her undying love and spares his life. Throughout the ballet her free and energetic soul bursts with love and is crushed with betrayal.
In Act II, we’re presented with an emotional pas de deux by Giselle’s spirit and Albrecht, her ex-fiancee. In my opinion this role was perfectly portrayed by Natalia Osipova, a dancer from the Royal Ballet. Osipova maintains strength, weightlessness and beauty but at the same time she flawlessly unfolds Giselle’s weak and vulnerable state.
Natalia Osipova said of this ballet, “I would want the audience to come away with a purification of emotions – a catharsis. Maybe they could be kinder, or perhaps more loving towards their family.” Osipova’s interpretation exceeds more than just beauty and romance.
These ballets transmit the romantic realities we face in everyday life, through the elegance of the dancers in their every steps. I particularly appreciate the fluidity and the passion which shines through, which is also seen in the comedic, but maybe not so elegant moments.
Although I feel that passion is hard to portray through dance, the universal and romantic elements in these ballets make the roles slightly less challenging as they allow feelings to take control. Through the dancers we can try to recall our most heart wrenching memories. By empathising with the characters, we can appreciate the way they transform emotions into elegance in every single Jeté, Port de Bras or Relevé.
