Who will you meet in Giselle? Discover the main characters and the Atlanta Ballet dancers who will bring them to life on stage.

Giselle is a young peasant girl and the belle of the village, beloved by everyone for her sweet nature, innocent demeanor, and joyful spirit. She loves to dance, despite having a weak heart. Giselle falls in love with Albrecht, unaware that he is actually a nobleman disguised as a villager and engaged to another woman. When the truth is revealed, Giselle is overwhelmed by grief and descends into madness. She ultimately dies and crosses into the spirit world, transforming into one of the ethereal Wilis. In death, Giselle discovers newfound strength and defends her true love, demonstrating her final transformation into a tender and forgiving spirit.

“My Giselle is shaped by my own experiences of joy, vulnerability, and forgiveness, while remaining faithful to the spirit of the ballet.” - Mikaela Santos, Giselle.

For Mikaela Santos, preparing for the role of Giselle began long before she stepped into the studio. “Physically, the role is very demanding. It requires buoyant balloon and earthy musicality in Act I, then sustained control, breath, and softness in Act II.” Santos focuses on stamina, foot strength, and clarity of épaulement so the technique never overshadows the emotion. “Emotionally, I need complete vulnerability,” she explains. “Giselle is open-hearted, trusting, and deeply human. I spend time understanding her innocence and her love—not as something fragile, but as something brave. Carrying her emotional journey from joy to heartbreak, and eventually forgiveness, is just as exhausting as the physical demands, and it requires a deep sense of empathy and honesty.”

Santos deeply respects the legacy of Giselle and the dancers who have shaped the role. Watching great Giselle’s has helped her understand the stylistic and emotional boundaries of the ballet. That said, she tries not to imitate. “Once I understand the tradition, I let go of it and trust my own instincts. Making the role my own comes from living truthfully inside each moment.”

Airi Igarashi is also playing the role of Giselle and finds the biggest challenge in moving from the earthly, folk-inspired movement of Act I to the ethereal, pointe-heavy technique of Act II, which is finding contrast without losing continuity, specifically after the mad scene and Giselle's demise. "Act II requires extreme control and quiet strength," notes Igarashi, "so the challenge is making the second act feel effortless and ethereal while still keeping Giselle's emotional presence alive."

Igarashi has studied past performances of Giselle to learn from the dancers' musicality, technique, and emotional depth. "They have been incredibly inspiring, but at the same time, I don't try to emulate them. I focus on bringing my own experiences, sensitivity, and natural movement quality to the role so that Giselle feels truthful and personal to me."

Albrecht, a young nobleman looking for adventure, disguises himself as a villager named Loys. He meets and becomes infatuated with Giselle, and so enamored by her youthful and innocent beauty, forgets about his engagement to Bathilde, a lady of the court. When his true identity is revealed, Albrecht finds himself torn between his infatuation for Giselle and his duty to his fiancée. Ultimately, he chooses Bathilde. Heartbroken, Giselle dies, leaving Albrecht consumed by guilt and sorrow. He returns to her grave, and instead of facing a tragic fate at the hands of the Wilis, Giselle’s love spares him. He is forever changed and repentant.

"I have been studying behind the scenes to make the role of Albrecht my own. I've spent a lot of time practicing port de bras in front of the mirror and experimenting with pantomime to discover what feels most natural for conveying my intentions."
- Ángel Ramírez, Albrecht

In addition to dancing and partnering, the role demands significant silent acting, requiring subtle movements to keep the audience engaged in Albrecht's story. "At the beginning of this process, I realized that I needed to be comfortable with simply being still. There are emotions that can be conveyed through a subtle look or gesture," explains Ramírez.

Albrecht's second entrance in Act II is crucial to the ballet's plot and lasts almost four minutes. "This scene needs to convey a sense of heaviness. In my interpretation, Albrecht feels a deep sense of guilt for betraying Giselle. I concentrate on my gaze, looking off into the distance as if I'm searching for a horizon, but with an inward focus."

Hilarion, the village huntsman and gamekeeper to the court, is also in love with the pure-hearted Giselle. He grows suspicious of the newcomer Loys and eventually uncovers evidence of the handsome stranger’s true noble status. Hilarion denounces Albrecht as an impostor, but instead of seeking comfort from him, Giselle loses her will to live. While mourning at her graveside, Hilarion is frightened by ghostly visions and flees to the forest, where he falls victim to the vengeful Wilis, who command him to dance to his death.

“I see Hilarion as more of a misunderstood hero than a villain. He genuinely cares for Giselle and wants to protect her, even if his methods aren’t always perfect. His actions come from a place of love, not malice, making him a complex character trying to navigate his emotions and circumstances.” - Anderson Souza, Hilarion.

Anderson Souza portrays Hilarion as a caring individual whose actions are motivated by love for Giselle. “I believe that Hilarion's feelings stem from a platonic affection, which drives him to seek the truth and protect her from deception. Instead of being a villain, Hilarion genuinely wants what is best for Giselle.” However, capturing Hilarion's suspicion of "Loys" without making him appear petty or jealous presents a challenge. Souza notes, “he’s so focused on Giselle’s happiness that he doesn’t realize how his actions might come across.”

Souza also interprets the Wilis as representations of Hilarion's unconscious feelings of remorse and grief for his choices. They are not simply vengeful spirits; they symbolize his inner turmoil. “In Hilarion’s final scene, I aim to convey both his desperation to survive and his deep yearning for forgiveness and inner peace. This duality intensifies the fear and panic Hilarion experiences as he confronts the consequences of his actions.”

Myrtha is the Queen of the Wilis, reigning over a kingdom of ghostly spirits composed of maidens whose lovers betrayed them before marriage. The Wilis rise at night to haunt the forests, luring men to their doom. Regal, terrifying, and merciless, Myrtha leads this group of vengeful spirit maidens and forces their victims to dance until they die. When she demands the same fate for Albrecht, her magical strength is weakened by Giselle’s power of eternal love, which protects her true love from his demise.

“Myrtha never looks down, nor does she allow uncertainty to enter her focus. Whether my gaze is directed into the woods or fixed on the victims before me, it is carried with a cold, unwavering confidence.” - Brooke Gilliam, Myrtha.

Brooke Gilliam will take on the regal role of Myrtha, and along with the corps de ballet, will portray the Wilis as a formidable and unified force. “There is immense power in a group of women who share the same spirit—especially when that spirit is born from heartbreak. Dancing alongside the corps de ballet of the Wilis feels like a deeply ritualized act, carefully shaped over many years. Each of us understands the profound meaning and inevitable fate that our dance represents. There is a moment at the climax of our first dance together where we perform a series of fouetté jumps in unison. I feel this moment embodies our collective strength and connection, and that energy is truly palpable.”

Gilliam has thoroughly enjoyed preparing for her dramatic entrance on stage. “As the Queen of the Wilis, I am completely merciless. I never hesitate, and I never doubt. To embody this character, I focus on lifting and asserting my chest and chin, maintaining an intense gaze, and exuding absolute certainty with every movement—even when I am standing still and observing." To project the power and strength of the role, Gilliam concentrates on grounding her energy and strength in her core. “This not only enhances the quality of my movement but also feels deeply connected to Myrtha’s character. While my arms convey a sense of ethereality and weightlessness, they are never fragile. They are strong and purposeful— the force that summons the Wilis and draws my victims toward their demise.”

The Wilis are the vengeful spirits of scorned maidens. Like Giselle, who becomes one of them after being jilted by Albrecht, these women died from broken hearts before their wedding days. Led by the ruthless Myrtha, these ghostly and ethereal figures embody tragic passion and a desire for revenge. Dressed in long, tulle wedding dresses and veils, they appear as beautiful yet haunting figures in white.

Click here to view Giselle casting.

Discover the captivating world of Giselle, on stage at the Cobb Energy Centre over Valentine’s Weekend, from February 13 to 15. Don't miss this chance to discover the artistry behind this enchanting performance.

Photos by Kim Kenney.