DADA MASILO / THE DANCE FACTORY | GISELLE

South African choreographer Dada Masilo is known for her bold reinterpretations of classic ballets: nothing escapes her fearless gaze. Having reimagined Swan Lake and Carmen, Dada Masilo now takes on Giselle, a classic heroine if ever there was one. Stunning.

“To dance is to take a stand,” as Dada Masilo is fond of saying. With a dozen works to her credit, the Johannesburg- born dancer and choreographer has clearly shown that it’s possible to entertain people and make them think at the same time. Judging by the international popularity of Swan Lake and Carmen, it’s a winning formula.

Her Giselle, a young girl who dies after being betrayed by a man, is resolutely feminist. Powerful themes such as grief and revenge coalesce on stage, expressed through uniquely inventive movement. Dada Masilo likes dance that dances, and she likes to work with a truly dazzling company of artists. Add a musical score by Philip Miller that combines elements of classical music and African percussion, and you get a defiantly contemporary Giselle. Once again, Dada Masilo plays around with the past to convey a present reality.