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Ballet Memphis enchants with classic "Giselle"

Rachel Neville Photography

Ballet Memphis concludes their main-stage season with the iconic Giselle, April 12 through 14 at the Orpheum.

Considered one of the Top 3 ballets to see (along with Swan Lake and Romeo & Juliet), Giselle tells the story of a peasant girl who descends into madness and ultimately dies of a broken heart after learning her beloved is actually promised to someone else. With elements of the supernatural and incredibly technical and emotional dancing, Giselle is visually stunning and dancing the lead is a coveted role for many ballerinas.

Virginia Pilgrim Ramey and Brandon Ramey will dance the leads of Giselle and Albrecht, respectively. Crystal Brothers, in her last mainstage performance with Ballet Memphis, will dance the role of Myrtha, queen of the Wilis (the spectral virginal brides who dance ne'er-do-well men to their deaths). Brothers will retire at the end of this season after a career with Ballet Memphis that goes back to 1996.

In this interview, Ballet Master Brian McSween discusses Ballet Memphis' new staging of the classic, and Virginia Pilgrim Ramey talks about her first time essaying this "bucket-list" role.

Giselle

April 12-14, 2019

The Orpheum Theatre

Friday, April 12 at 7:30p

Saturday, April 13 at 7:30p

Sunday, April 14 at 2p

Tickets: $7, $25, $45, $75

www.balletmemphis.org

901-737-7322

I began piano lessons at age 6, trumpet at age 9, and began teaching myself the guitar at 10. My electronics knowledge comes from my father, who had the RCA television and stereo shop in my hometown of Pocahontas, Arkansas for nearly 20 years. My dad is still fixing televisions at age 79.