Highly Recommended Dance: GISELLE (Dutch National Ballet; Only in Cinemas on January 21, 2024)

For years, moviegoers were able to experience some of the world’s most exquisite ballet productions in movie theaters. Then came the pandemic, with its impact on cinemas. At the same time, the Ukraine war changed the face of ballet worldwide.

Now, Iconic Events and Pathé Live returns to offer one of the most beautiful and timeless ballets ever created — probably the most romantic piece in the classical ballet repertoire — gracing the silver screen with an extraordinary new production of Giselle. Featuring principal dancers Olga Smirnova and Jacopo Tissi, both of whom fled Russia at the start of the war and have found a remarkable artistic home at Dutch National Ballet—this exquisite work comes to hundreds of selected movie theaters throughout the U.S. Filmed at Dutch National Ballet, this ravishing piece offers a spectacular mid-winter cinematic experience featuring the former stars of the Bolshoi Ballet.

Inspired by the legend of the Wilis, the extraordinary ballet company tells the story of a young peasant girl who falls in love with a nobleman, who is already betrothed and who hides his true identity from her. Giselle cultivates the key themes of romanticism such as tragic love, nature, the fantastic, and features a stunning “white act,” a hallmark of romantic ballets. Composed by Adolphe Adam, the music is performed by Dutch Ballet Orchestra.

Prior to joining Dutch National Ballet, Smirnova, who performs the title role, was featured in many broadcasts live from Moscow in cinemas as part of the Bolshoi Ballet. Her most recent filmed-for-cinema performances include Nikiya in La Bayadère (2019) and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. Smirnova is joined by Dutch National Ballet’s freshly named principal dancer, Italian-born Tissi, who has also performed for significant live broadcasts from Moscow in cinemas, as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake (2020) and in Balanchine’s “Diamonds” in Jewels (2022).