Love, Betrayal & Ghost Brides
Experience the thrill of Giselle
Friday, November 13 - Sunday, November 15
Grand Rapids, MI
Love, betrayal, heartbreak, and redemption collide in this haunting romantic ballet. Set in the early 1900s, Giselle follows a young factory worker whose tragic love story transcends death itself in a breathtaking journey through heartbreak, forgiveness, and enduring love.
This show will definitely give you the willies.
What happens when love dies, but its story doesn't?
Set on New York City's Lower East Side in 1906, Giselle reimagines one of ballet's most haunting love stories against the struggles of immigrant garment workers fighting to make ends meet.
In a close-knit neighborhood where families share what little they have, Giselle finds joy in simple pleasures: reading to the neighborhood children, dancing with her friends, and falling in love with a charming young laborer named Loys. But beneath his humble appearance, Loys hides a dangerous secret. He is Albrecht, a wealthy aristocrat already promised to another woman.
As tensions rise between Giselle's admirers, the harsh realities of working-class life collide with the privileges of the wealthy. When Albrecht's deception is exposed, Giselle's world shatters. Betrayed by the man she loves and overwhelmed by heartbreak, she dances through her grief until her fragile heart can bear no more.
But Giselle's story doesn't end with death.
In Act II, she joins the Wilis, a mysterious sisterhood of women betrayed by their lovers. Led by their formidable queen, Myrtha, these ghostly brides haunt the night, forcing any man who crosses their path to dance until he dies. When Albrecht returns to Giselle's grave seeking forgiveness, he finds himself at the mercy of the very spirits he once helped create.
Now Giselle must choose: will she surrender to the vengeance that binds the Wilis, or protect the man who broke her heart?
Haunting, romantic, and emotionally charged, Deos Contemporary Ballet's Giselle explores the devastating cost of betrayal and the extraordinary courage it takes to choose compassion over revenge. In a world shaped by inequality, heartbreak, and loss, this timeless story asks whether love can survive even death itself.
Experience Giselle, a world premiere by Deos Contemporary Ballet, November 13–15 in Grand Rapids.
Need assistance? Contact Isabelle Ramey at isabelle.ramey@deosballet.com or call to discuss ticketing.
WATCH: Behind the Scenes
Giselle, the title character of Deos Ballet’s upcoming production, dies of a broken heart at the end of Act 1. In the second act of the ballet, she returns to the stage as a Wili, one of a fleet of ghost brides who seek revenge on men who have wronged them.
Deos Contemporary Ballet dancers in white lace dresses with blood red lace flowers dance as “Wilis” from the world premiere version of Tess Sinke’s Giselle, ahead of the performances November 13-15.
The story of Giselle has changed slightly over time, with different adaptions recently placing the story in various time periods, updating characters and costumers, and giving the audience a fresh take on the beloved story. Deos Contemporary Ballet’s version of Giselle features contemporary ballet movement, new characters, and an updated storyline.
General Information
Performances
Friday, November 13 at 7pm
Saturday, November 14 at 7pm
Sunday, November 15 at 2pm
Location
Union High School Performing Arts Center
1800 Tremont Blvd NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Tickets
$45 General Admission