The Terrifying Yet Beautiful Dance of the Willis (Ballet Commentary)

[@Stephanie-ry9or]

At the beginning, the long white tutus, and veils also represent the shrouds they were wrapped in in their graves, and the crossed arms mimic the the crossed arm position of medieval effigies, another symbol of death. So all the symbols are double, the lives they've lost and reminders of death.

[@mst3kharris]

One of the saddest and eeriest things about the Wilis is how many of them there are. My favorite thing about the choreography is how the bourées create the impression of effortless gliding.

[@spiderine1prime]

I always thought that when the willis were kneeling on the ground waving back and forth they were wailing in mourning.

[@esthereriksson865]

We love the Ghost Girl Gang🤍🤍

[@thellasilva]

5:42 she turns like a music box ballerina 🥹🥹 absolutely gorgeous!

[@alicefromcheshire]

How fantastic you chose polish ballet since it's a slavic mythology based scene! Love from Poland ❤

[@Neverender6]

Thank you for this, the timing is perfect as I just saw Giselle for the first time ever at the National Ballet of Canada two days ago and it is still very fresh in my mind ☺

[@balletreign]

Their company has a beautiful Giselle! Unforgettable 🤍

[@ivyarianrhod]

Did you see Tirion Law? I'm obsessed with her channel.

[@Neverender6]

@@ivyarianrhod Yes, I believe it was her debut performance as Giselle and she was amazing! I actually didn't even know she had a channel so now I'm going to go watch all of her videos lol

[@joaniemaloney]

this video popped up on my feed bc I saw Giselle this season there too! not on your same day but still incredible. can't get enough, wishing I could've seen two performances!

[@tracys169]

Omg. Tirion is so awesome, right? Just fantastic debut as Giselle.

[@atomic_skyy]

Giselle is my favorite ballet. I’ve always loved and felt drawn to music, ballet and sewing because to me all three are the same thing, the same feeling, they hit, float, move in the same place in the heart, and Giselle is a work of art. It’s an old ballet but it’s so mesmerizing, it can be labeled as dramatic, OTT, outdated, and it’s also modern, relatable in a way, raw. The thoughts and questions you get from that ballet are deep and timeless. They are personal and resonate with your life journey. So beautiful. Ps : I started ballet this year at 23 after I was discharged from the CICU. Giselle forever

[@balletreign]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts ❤️ we are so happy to hear that you started ballet this year! We hope you will continue to enjoy it and take care of yourself 🫰🏻🫰🏻

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

The gauzy drape over their heads is beautiful and unsettling to me in equal measure

[@apearson79]

As a former classical musical, we feel that synergy in the orchestra too. I love your videos, they bring a new in depth level to ballet that helps me as a non dancer enjoy it even more! If I had ever realized this piece was about ghosts I'd have watched it sooner! 😂

[@pukasonqo895]

It is a powerful piece, it always leaves me with this sense of loneliness because even if they dance together they are alone in their sorrow, when I was younger I used to see the veil as a visual symbol of the sadness and maybe anger that surrounds them

[@mariacecilia-iv4yu]

I found this orchestra so enjoyable that I even downloaded this part of the wilis on my phone to listen to every day. And I love the cymbals at the end, most orchestras don't use them.

[@karenjones9961]

Thanks you Ladies for the marvelous commentary on the Wilis' ballabile in Giselle Act 2! Polish National Ballet's cdb rocks!👏👏💐 💐 From their first appearance and entrance from the rear of the stage, to their arabesques voyages, they're awesome. "Giselle" is the perfect ballet: It never fails. I also love that the cdb is veiled for the first formations like Dutch National Ballet's Wilis. Natalia Pasiut's Myrtha drips blood - like Marinela Nunez, Tatiana Terekhova, Marie Agnes Gillot and Victoria Tereshkina's interpretations. 💯❤!

[@mermaidopulence8539]

This scene from Giselle always takes my breath away. Out of the many white acts, this has to be my all time favorite to watch. It just brings out all the emotions as you watch them dancing. It's like you can feel their pain and hurt while at the same time admiring the beautiful dancing.

[@divab63]

My first Giselle live performance was Gelsey Kirkland with ABT (late 70’s??). It is a performance I will always remember ❤️

[@denisehill7769]

Loved this! I also love how by the end of Myrtha's saut de basques she and all the girls are now looking up, like they've gained and embraced their full power. Thank you so much!

[@Lili.sim0ne]

I just saw Giselle with the National Ballet of Canada and it was incredible! Genevieve Penn Nabity as Myrtha had incredible stage presence.

[@lalalalala9451]

YYYYEEEEESSSS i love these commentaries

[@balletreign]

Yayyy thanks for watching!🤍🤍

[@MariValen-b8m]

Giselle is my favorite ballet, especially Act 2. Thanks for doing a commentary of one of the best corps de ballet pieces of classic ballet repertoire. The music is impeccable, Adam never disappoints! ✨🩰

[@balletreign]

The whole thing is so good. Thanks for watching! ✨

[@julietan8219]

Oh, thank you so much. I love this ❤ My grandpa introduced Giselle when I was young. I begged my parents to let me join a ballet class after that. So many good memories are coming back.

[@balletreign]

Aww so sweet ❤️❤️

[@jlcmccallum]

This is perfect timing: I saw Giselle last night and the corps de ballet was ✨spectacular✨

[@CatilinarianOrations]

Yay!!! Giselle is my favorite ballet of all time (thanks to your video analyzing the whole ballet!) -- I'm so thrilled to see more analysis content on it!! The themes are so lovely, thought-provoking, and nuanced throughout this ballet.

[@balletreign]

Thanks for watching 🤍🤍

[@mariacecilia-iv4yu]

I've read that Myrtha's two squires died after falling off a cliff and the other died in the river's current.

[@VanessaChats]

This is why I love this channel. "Where's the tea?" (pause to get tea) As a fellow #TeaLover thank you for your service hahaha

[@laurenbashoura9575]

I love this ballet! The Polish National version shown in this video is my absolute favorite rendition, too. I especially love this Myrtha (she’s so severe and cold, and yet you get the sense that she is enjoying herself immensely the whole time), and the choice to keep the veils on for the entire dance rather than just for the introduction of the Willis (as other versions do) makes it feel so much more ethereal. I was devastated to see that they pulled the full show off of KZbin - do you girls know where one could find the full show online?

[@QueneBriarBelle]

Awwww yes!!! This is the first ballet I watched outside of the Tchaikovsky Trifecta and I remember the moment I saw the Willis dancing like they were floating off the stage floor and the incomparable Natalia Osipovia dancing as Giselle, I was a goner. Haha! This is my favorite ballet ever right now and I was entranced again watching the Willis variations again with ya'll in this video. It also reminded me of the other video you guys did covering the whole Giselle ballet here. That also helped me fall in love with this ballet. Thanks ladies! I will definitely come back to watch this again :)

[@user-sqab_sus5BREF]

Thank you so much for the commentary! Giselle is one of my favorite ballets ( they’re all my favorite but especially Giselle). When they were doing the chugs in arabesque, all I could say was wow. The piece is so amazing that words can’t possibly describe its power. Thank you !❤❤❤

[@oxoelfoxo]

chugs, hehehe. is that really the dancer terminology for that action?

[@user-sqab_sus5BREF]

@@oxoelfoxo I’m pretty sure it is. My teacher uses it, especially if we’re not jumping high enough😂.

[@tsuki1239]

I’ve recently seen this ballet live in Łódź in Poland. Dance of the Willis is my fav part of Giselle and probably my favourite classical piece. I cried watching it live, such a magnificent experience 🤍

[@elle7938]

Thank you for talking about the awesome ghost girl gang in such a sad time for us. much love ❤

[@shespeex8413]

Myrtha was one of my favorite roles to dance. That and Kirtri, which are such polar opposites. I love on her Menge how she used her head to follow the arm through first and down. Perfection! 👩‍🍳👌💋

[@gabrielabaquero9269]

Damn. This might have just become both my favorite ballet video and my favorite ballet piece ever. 🤯

[@talitharosanna946]

Giselle is one of the first ballets that made me fall in love with ballet, especially because of the story and the ghostly, ethereal beauty. Myrtha was always my dream role 💗 Also thank you for showing the Polish ballet, I haven't seen them before! They're stunning! xx

[@feliciacoffey6832]

Stunning production by Polish National Ballet!! I hadn't known of them before, and this production just slays!!

[@Nokiaakaaa11]

Love this ❤ I recently saw Iana Salenko as Giselle and it was pure magic

[@Campanula.rapunculus]

Such an exquisite and magical white act ✨️ 🤍 Your commentary is wonderful. Thank you! I'm learning so much from both of you! ✨️

[@balletreign]

Thank you so much!! 🫰🏻🫰🏻

[@malousmom9231]

Off topic, I really love your tops!! Very ballerina off duty vibes!!

[@jllaney]

This choreography is most likely Petipa's. He may have based some of the movements and patterns on Coralli and Perrot's original choreo, but it's Petipa. Also, Moyna and Zulma are the names of Myrtha's girls.

[@deborahbarrett2385]

I've watched this live when my husband played it (he's a symphony musician) but I never knew all of these details and symbols so THANK YOU! 💖💖💖

[@larissaswayze]

My favourite scene from a ballet of all time. No question.

[@ninjaz.l1099]

I love Giselle so much, and watched the dance soooo many times. Thank you for watching with me again, I love your channel!

[@CheyenneSedai]

Here late because I spent the day catching up on FS stuff, but very excited for this commentary. And speaking of ballet and FS, can you please do one on Solor in La Bayadere? I want more context for Deniss's gorgeous free skate.

[@ssjb7542]

Such a delightful commentary, technically astute & heartfelt interpretation~ BRAVA!!🩰🌎🎉

[@balletreign]

Thank you!! ✨

[@WhitKnight-mi5tx]

Wowsa. Thank you, Ladies!

[@RomyMacias]

Such a joy to watch you two! Love Giselle. I loved performing it when I was younger. I was a Willi in Act 2. And I was friends of Giselle in Act I. One of my all time favorite ballets to perform! Thanks ladies for this excellent analysis of Myrtha and the corp de ballet.

[@gonefishing167]

Thank you girls. A good corp de ballet 🩰 is the backbone of any good ballet company. Especially in the Willie’s and La Bayadere. Superb when done well. I saw Monica Mason as Myrtha- superb! Lovely girls, thank you 🙏👵🙏🩰🩰🩰🩰🩰🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@StoneyPompompurin]

19:54 when the bass drops 😩😩 this is my favorite part of ballet ever 😭😭😭

[@naboolio8442]

Recently watched ENB perform Mary Skeaping’s Giselle and the Willis’ costumes had hints of green and foliage - making them appear of the earth and prettily rotting. I really liked them but reading some reviews I think I’m a minority?!

[@DaveCalungsod]

Love that y'all brought back another giselle vid, absolute fav of mine❤❤❤❤

[@LesWilis]

The Wilis have one mind and two dozen pairs of pointe shoes. They move like a centipede and give you the wilis.

[@feliciacoffey6832]

Like the way you expressed that!!

[@victoriamn8364]

AHHHH this is my favorite white act and I’m so happy you guys covered it!!!!!! It’s SO powerful and gives me the chills every time I watch it Also have you seen the English national ballet willi costumes???? They’re soooo beautiful!!

[@annaiuga]

I love act 2 of Giselle so much, and you explained it very well. Thank you! Love your videos!

[@saracheng9890]

Although the ghost are died of betrayal of men , the music sounds quite delightful ..

[@Campanula.rapunculus]

3:09 Theo's New Ballet Mood Board 😂💀

[@balletreign]

☁️✨👻🌬️🍃🌕🤍

[@FireBird.37]

Ooo this looks like so much fun and very certified info 😂❤

[@balletreign]

*very certified* ✨

[@cindyhawk7822]

I soooo love watching you both getting so excited over the ballet moves of the dancers, I have watched Giselle so many times but the way you explain the musicality and the dancers is so awesome😀😀😀 thank you both for all your hard work bringing all of us these videos!

[@ellenspear50]

It just occurred to me to wonder if these willis are connected in some way to the maid/witch/nymph/spirit who appears to a young man, makes love with him then disappears, leaving him to yearn for her in the song Vilja, a highlight of the opera The Merry Widow.

[@infiniteideassquared9102]

Ghost girlbosses girlbossing it up! Also, I watch these videos drinking tea too! Cheers!!!

[@rawtoast745]

Such an awesome video ✨✨✨👌🏻

[@balletreign]

Thank youuu ✨ Hope you’re staying warm 🫰🏻🫰🏻

[@rawtoast745]

@ same here

[@brit1583]

I so cant wait for this. I think it is my favourite bit of my favourite ballet

[@balletreign]

One of our faves too 🫰🏻🫰🏻 excitedddd ✨

[@LCbook]

Thank you so much! Yall r seriously my dream big sisters

[@sofiasilva1154]

Literalmente, te sumerges en ese mundo, es tan >>>>>>. Después de desaparecerme por un tiempo he vuelto muy feliz y contenta de ver sus videos otra vez quisiera de todo ❤, quisiera una reseña acerca del ballet Cenicienta cuál es la especialidad de Navidad. LAS AMO ✨✨✨✨

[@malousmom9231]

Really enjoyed your commentary!!!

[@paulaqueiroznogueira5518]

I LOVE ballet commentary!!!

[@seraphinee777]

Just booked a ticket to see it next spring in Warsaw 💕

[@qQuellaq]

It’s Nutcracker season. Can we also have an analysis of that? Tyy ❤❤

[@Ohana1-l4y]

It is seriously one of my favorite corpse de ballet parts. Like it even more then swan lake

[@lavandeyracaro]

❤❤❤ Loved rhis video!

[@johannastromberg1224]

Because of this channel, I’m dying to see this ballet now!

[@juliapinheiro401]

eu adoro o jeito que vocês narram a obra. obrigada pelo vídeo!

[@RandomTheresa]

Always reminds me of the scene in The Turning Point when Leslie Browne performed as one of the willis while drunk

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

Thank you so much for explaining everything about the scene, the music and the choreo! Performing ballet seems to require a lot of acting skills. Do you have acting training as well? have a lovely weekend! 🙏🩰🌧🦌💝

[@balletreign]

Ballet def teaches you a thing or two on acting ✨ thanks for watching today! 😆😆

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

@@balletreign 🙏🎭👻🧡

[@jitters458]

Excellent commentary. Please publish more.

[@oxoelfoxo]

shoutout to subtitler patrons! thank you!!

[@FireBird.37]

No Royal Ballet?! They’re breaking Ballet Reign 101 😅 Polish Ballet does do a very beautiful Giselle though ❤

[@mariacecilia-iv4yu]

I really like Angelina Vlashinets' Myrtha who is more "sad" and I like Ekaterina Shipulina a "evil" Myrtha

[@ValerieMikhail]

Proof that Jordan and Eden are 1 ballet nerd and not two here is why: Jordan= J Eden= E If u put them together it spells « JE » and « je » means « I » in French so that’s proof that they are ONE ballet nerd. It’s prob not that interesting but I just wanted to put that out there. Love u J&E ♥️

[@balletreign]

this 😂😂

[@ValerieMikhail]

@ u guys can litterally read each other’s mind at any moment (try now I bet it works)

[@oxoelfoxo]

@@ValerieMikhail but they didn't have the same answers in the ballet telepathy game haha

[@ValerieMikhail]

@@oxoelfoxo Oh i forgot abt that 🤣 but it doesn’t stop them for being ballet nerds 😂

[@ValerieMikhail]

@@oxoelfoxo and very **certified**

[@annlidslot8212]

Hi, So this showed up in my feed. Never one to turn around from learning something new (very much the opposite actually), and I know hardly anything about ballet. I know just slightly more about Giselle from watching it on TV in black and white when I was maybe 10 if that. you are correct, I am old... -ish. This has more or less the same story as the opera Le Willi by Puccini. Not that I know the opera well, but I know more about it than about ballet. One of the things I was wondering about, is how much are the dancer's choice in interpretation and how much is it the corriogrpher's? I'm obviously not talking about the corp in this, as they obviously need to look as similar as each other, but when it comes to the soloists and principal (I think you called them?). Here too when they dance with everybody on stage I guess that they would need to look similar, but what about the solos. I noticed that the two assistants as they danced one after the other their dancing was subtly different in "looks". The first very flowy and soft in movement, the other having a little bit of attitude. I could see the evil scowl of the queen mirrored in her. Is this their interpretation, because how their anatomy works or what the director (do they have directors in ballet?)/choreograph wants them to dance it. Same question about the queen too, really, but I'm guessing she has more leeway being the most highly paid dancer on the floor. Or at least until a guy comes in to dance. I doubt that equal pay has reached that part of the stage, but I'm happy to be told I'm wrong. Yours, Ann P.S Not quite. It takes a long time to become good at either. Then again we have the musical theatre people. They can sing, they can dance and they can act a little. Not always in that order though.

[@melowlw8638]

theres a bit of both i think!! principal dancers do have freedom for adding their intepretation into the dance (an example that comes to mind is how hannah o'neill's myrtha has been criticised for being robotic or cold, but its an aspect that others like about it, since it translates the feeling of a ghost rather well) thats also helped with the fact that choreography changes depending on the place, so even if the dancer sticks to the choreography in a strict sense, there's going to be a very different feel, if u're seeing a specific giselle. i think no matter how strictly one wants to adhere to the choreography, theres an inherent feeling from the dancer, was well as their personal style of dancing, their strengths, that will shine through, inadvertently. but for principal roles, yes there is work to change up a bit of how it is danced, to help the dancer feel the character, to embody them, but of course while not changing the choreography too much. there's instances where some small steps or movements will be omitted, ballet reign has shown 2 examples of this for giselle. one with naralia osipova choosing to emphasise a jump-like step, which acts as a transition between 2 parts of the solo she is doing, as jumping is one of her strengths. it also adds to the lively personality that giselle is displaying, as a youthful girl who wants to show her dancing to the village. the other example i recall is marianela núñez choosing to balance on her foot in an arabesque for longer than usual, omitting the next few steps, to emphasise a slow point in the music. these kinds of things can be improvised, sometimes to hide a mistake, or they can occur in the moment, of the dancer's free will, as well as of course also emerging from discussion between the dancers n répétiteurs (the teachers who make sure the original sentiment/choreography of the ballet is respected) sorry for the long answer, i hope that was useful, as well as not too repetitive 😌😌 have a lovely day!! (and yes they do have directors in ballet, but the ones working closely with the dancers r the ballet masters + répétiteurs)

[@annlidslot8212]

​@melowlw8638 Hi, Thank you for your kind answer, No, no. The answer isn't long at all and not repetitive. These things are completely new to me. I'm trained in classical singing, and my teachers and coaches work/ed at the opera house here in my city, so that's where my lessons were held. There is a ballet company in the house as well, and the house is also producing usually one musical per year too. As I had my brains full of producing notes that wouldn't make people's ears bleed, that was the thing I was focused on. The Ballet Opera Company, is semi independently run and mostly dance modern productions or recreate older ones in a new format. If you want to see tutus, that aren't for on men (Cinderella, I think, some of the guys were on point too), you'll have to go to our capital and their Royal Opera Ballet Company. At their Royal Opera House. They do the classics I've been told. The same with the Musical Theatre at the opera house. They can use the opera chorus but the soloists are usually brought in, as the opera soloists are in one opera or another. So are the chorus but they have different contracts. As singers we are trained to be respectful and protective of the composer's intent as it comes in original music score. After that we all have different voices and that will have an impact on how we sing things. You can hear it if you know something that Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli both have sung. Or Pavarotti and Domingo. When you listen to them you can tell them apart by their voices. You can even prefer one over the other. I like Domingo over Pavarotti, but Andrea Bocelli doesn't affect me, so he would be last in that trio. From what you are telling me you, can tell the difference because of the dancer's strengths and weaknesses, and those will influence their interpretations so that they are distinct from each others too. Do I understand you right? It's a new world for me so I hope you have the patience whilst I fumble myself through. The steps are set by a choreographer, be it a new or old one, and the progression from one part of the steps to the next in the manner that the choreographer wants/ed are up to the Ballet Master or Mistress. What is role répétiteurs? And no one knows what the director is for? The feeling you get from any performance of a ballet on a repertoire will also depend on the particular dancer dancing the part on any particular night? Or depending on what theatre that they dance their part at? I don't quite follow you along there, and I would be delighted if you would elaborate and straighten me out. I love to learn new things, and ballet are way outside my comfort zone. All I know about the dancers are that they start at 8 or 9 in the morning with class even if they don't have a performance that day. You also know if you meet one in the elevator. You can tell by the down shoes, ugly sweatpants and woolly uncoordinated jumper, usually with holes in, and the cheese sandwich in their hand. They eat constantly and a little at the time. They have personal nutrition sheets they should keep up with, or they might lose their job from breach of contract. They are the only people that can have many small meals in the futten (the canteens or staff restaurants are called futten in Europe, I've been told, but have no evidence. It's called that in the opera house in town) more than the breakfast, lunch and dinner and after performance meal the rest of the artistic staff gets. The administrative staff follow the singers and actors (should there be one or two, in a house filled with song and dance) for meal times. Interesting to note is that the répétiteurs for the singers too, are the guardians of the composer's point of view in any opera. When you work with one, they will tell you exactly when you're making Mozart spinn in his grave, and make you stop. You work with a director with things like blocking (where to stand when you sing this or that, and what the chorus are to do at any given moment), and the conductor having worked with the répétiteurs or are sending you notes to work on with them, about the tempi and the emphasis he intends to make. He does the orchestra rehearsals, and try to coordinate the singers and he orchestra. I do know that ballet too work with a full orchestra at some venues (our opera house is one of those), how does that work? If a conductor wants to slow things down a bit, that must impact everything, as the dancer is in movement and need momentum to make all those 32 fouettés. I imagine it won't work if the conductor slows that part down. A singer find it difficult when the conductor is erratic, being a dancer must be so much worse. The singer have a few cheat ways to not run out of air, but conducting a jump in slow motion... ? I hope I'm not too long winded for you. I'm trying, and failing, to write short comments, and this one is one of those failures. If you'd like to tell me when I'm wrong, and how it actually works I would be so very

[@melowlw8638]

in another universe, giselle is with the ghost girlies, having fun taking revenge on men who deceived their lovers 🤭🤭

[@broo.ke_d]

Love this video! Also, are you guys able to tell me what brand of microphone you guys use? Do you have a link by chance? Michaelangelo is so fine 😂😂

[@lunasoleil2827]

Google Rusalka. They are actually not mermaids, but water spirits. Forget the image of The Little Mermaid. Rusalkas resemble the Willis more accurately, though without a veil.

[@Dseated]

This gave me the whilly's

[@giselletimmers1383]

i’ve always wondered why the willi’s seem to twist their ankles slightly upwards in the arabesque? more so than usual, where the straight line is kept, why is this??

[@tracys169]

Yayy for Ghost Girl Gang...I feel like I'm so annoyed at Albrecht...I feel like he doesn't deserve the forgiveness and kindness of Giselle. UGH. That's the only thing that annoyed me, but otherwise, my goodness, such a beautiful work. I love the Willis.

[@melowlw8638]

i agree!! i dont like albrecht either

[@iyalibustamante9177]

Fue la precursora de la grandeza del ballet en Rusia

[@flyingscot8306]

Would love to have you review/ compare contrast Akram Khan’s “Giselle”. Especially the Willis.

[@elzannenel4400]

22:26 Am I just imagining that all the corps' left arms are shortened slightly in the fifth as they balance? It's the first time I've noticed that. Or am I imagining things (maybe seeing ghosts 👻 😂? )

[@melowlw8638]

@@elzannenel4400 i think they look shortened bc they r bending it more than the other arm im not sure if thats what u were referring to, but thats how i see it

[@elzannenel4400]

@melowlw8638 Yes, it's just the first time I've seen the fifth position of the arms done in that way, and I was wondering whether it was an optical illusion due to the camera angle or a specific part of the choreography? And if it is choreography, does it appear in any other ballets?

[@kballet2001]

😭 I didn’t know the pose was for the children they never got to hold 🥺🥺😭😢

[@darthshark]

My last name is Willis and my family is from Poland🫢

[@Campanula.rapunculus]

🤍

[@ivyarianrhod]

Now do Akram Kahn's Giselle! (Please!)

[@asantos704]

de l'allemagne = "de-la-le-man-yuh"

[@balletreign]

Thank you 😆😆

[@Genshin_addict-e4n]

Myrtha giving FNAF Cassidy vibes

[@aetheriansunrise5433]

Don't you mean..."teachnical difficulties?"