Giselle - The Legend of Love Drunk Ballerina

Giselle, pronounced as “Jee-ZEL”, is a classic tragic love story that is often retold in ballet performances. This ballet is widely known for its beautiful choreography, magnificent music, and of course, the heart-wrenching storyline. But what most people don’t know is that Giselle was originally based on a real person, who may or may not have been a love drunk ballerina herself.

The Legend of Giselle

As the story goes, Giselle was a young peasant girl who fell in love with a nobleman, Albrecht. But little did she know that Albrecht was already betrothed to a woman of his own class. When the truth was revealed to Giselle, it shattered her heart into a million pieces. She went mad and died of a broken heart, and her spirit became a ghostly presence in the forest, waiting to dance with any man who dared to venture into her realm.

The Giselle Curse

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Legend has it that any ballerina who performs the role of Giselle too many times will become cursed with eternal love sickness. They become so enamored with the idea of tragic love that they start to believe that love can only exist in heartbreak and that they must suffer for their art. Some even say that the ghost of the original Giselle haunts them, guiding them towards their ultimate fate.

Anecdotes of Giselle

There are many famous anecdotes about Giselle and the love-struck ballerinas who have played her over the years. One story tells of a prima ballerina who became so obsessed with Giselle that she asked her husband to dress up in a nobleman’s costume and stage a faux love affair with her. Another tale is of a ballerina who broke up with her long-time boyfriend because he didn’t “understand the passion of Giselle,” and she felt they were on different wavelengths.

Conclusion

In the end, Giselle is more than just a ballet. It’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of love obsession and the pitfalls of pursuing art at any cost. So next time you see a ballerina performing the role of Giselle, remember that they might be more than just an artist on stage. They could be a love drunk victim of the Giselle curse, doomed to suffer eternal heartbreak for the sake of their craft.