By Malini Nagpal, BC-DMT, Ph.D.
To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from this performance. I felt a sense of restlessness when I entered the theater. I knew that traditionally Giselle is a story of a peasant girl who goes mad and dies from the betrayal of an aristocrat whom she loves (1st act). Then, in the afterlife (2nd act), she becomes a “Will,” a spirit in white who forces her aristocrat lover to dance until he dies. As such, I was preparing my heart and mind for the ultimate demise of love. To my surprise, this did not happen. Rather I was taken on a divine journey where the future is rooted in hope and driven by love.
“Make dance not war” and a message of hope was the key to the success of Giselle, beautifully performed by the United Ukrainian Ballet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on June 29. The opening night was sheer poetry. United Ukrainian Ballet Company, brought together by the tragedy of war, nonetheless resolute in hope, is comprised of sixty professional artists in exile. I can’t even imagine the story each artist has about their journey to safety. What was exquisitely clear was their unyielding connection to the power of dance. Aside from the beautiful lines and shapes that define ballet, the emotional connection of the artists to the message and the audience was breathtaking.
For centuries, dance has been shown to heal the hearts, minds, and bodies of its people, and this is exactly what unfolded on the opening night of Giselle. It is known that performing ‘Giselle’ is demanding for any dancer. Still, the message of hope and love through such a demanding piece was truly inspiring. Through the poignant choreography of Alexei Ratmansky and flawless execution by the dancers of the United Ukrainian Ballet, the audience “gasped” in “awe.” We were emotionally touched, physically moved, and soulfully connected. This powerful wave of experiences carried into the end surprise performance by former Ukrainian soldier, Oleksandr Teren, and members of the United Ukrainian Ballet.
Teren lost both his legs in the Russian war, commanded the stage, and danced beautifully; moving the audience to tears, the audience rose up into a roaring standing ovation. It was pure inspiration and resolute hope.
The message of hope extended into raising funds for lifesaving humanitarian aid for victims of the Russian invasion of Ukrainian. The proceeds from ticket sales benefited BlueCheck. Created to vet, verify, and fund Ukrainian-led local and grassroots frontline organizations providing lifesaving humanitarian aid to victims of the Russian invasion.
The healing and communicative power in dance must not be underestimated. This performance is clear evidence of that. At its very nature, the human psyche is constructed by a gradual layering of movement choreography from the moment of conception to death, however long that may be. The meaning of this choreography is unique to its people and evolves with time. The United Ukrainian Ballet artists deeply touched the hearts and souls of the audience. When it was desired the most, this performance of Giselle ignited a much-needed change in the human psyche.
Although I walked into the theater feeling restless and was prepared for the ultimate demise of love, I walked out inspired and determined in courage.
