Giselle - Act II pas de deux (Natalia Osipova and Carlos Acosta, The Royal Ballet)

A love that haunts. Natalia Osipova as Giselle and Carlos Acosta as Albrecht in Act II of Peter Wright's production of Marius Petipa’s Giselle. Wright’s atmospheric and bewitching production of Marius Petipa’s Giselle will be performed at the Royal Opera House 14 February–20 March 2026. Book tickets now – https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/giselle-marius-petipa-details Giselle is available to watch now – along with over 80 other extraordinary productions – on Royal Ballet and Opera Stream. Watch the whole performance now at https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/giselle-2021-digital To find exclusive souvenirs and gifts inspired by the ballet, explore the Giselle collection at the Royal Ballet and Opera Shop – https://shop.rbo.org.uk/pages/search-results-page?q=giselle Giselle is the quintessential Romantic ballet. It transformed the dance world when it was first performed in Paris in 1841 and remains at the centre of the classical repertory. Although the choreography and designs have undergone many changes over the years, the essence of Giselle remains the same. The Royal Ballet’s production uses Marius Petipa’s classic version (after the original choreography by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli), first staged in St Petersburg in 1884. The role of Giselle provides a dancer with many technical and dramatic challenges, from the character’s early love to her poignant descent into madness and final gesture of forgiveness from beyond the grave. The first act of the ballet is filled with historical detail and rustic colour. By contrast, the second act (known as the White Act) plunges the audience into an eerie moonlit forest haunted by the ethereal Wilis – vengeful spirits of young brides who died before their wedding day. With its combination of memorable story and exquisite choreography, Giselle is the perfect way to discover classical ballet.