American Repertory Ballet presents Ethan Stiefel & Johan Kobborg’s ‘Giselle’

American Repertory Ballet (ARB) opens its 2025/26 season at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) with the highly anticipated return of Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg’s acclaimed adaptation of the classic ballet Giselle.

Presented Friday, October 10, 2025 through Sunday, October 12, 2025, Giselle tells the story of a young woman who dies of a broken heart—only to confront, and eventually forgive, her beloved from beyond the grave.

Originally choreographed in 2012 for the Royal New Zealand Ballet under Stiefel’s artistic leadership, Giselle was initially restaged and partially redesigned specifically for ARB at NBPAC in 2022 by the award-winning team of Howard Jones (Scenic Designer), Natalia Stewart (Costume Designer), and Joseph R. Walls (Lighting Designer). Giselle is celebrated as being “superbly coached, curated, and danced,” says The Ballet Herald’s Nadia Vostrikov. “ARB’s Giselle is everything the original had and more.”

“Giselle is such a challenging role, and I’m discovering new layers of her character with each rehearsal,” says ARB Company Dancer Clara Pevel, who is set to make her debut in the title role. “The process has been incredibly fulfilling and eye-opening. I feel so privileged to learn under the guidance of the incomparable Gillian Murphy. I’m really looking forward to bringing this role to life and to sharing Giselle’s story on stage.”

“I had the honor of being coached by several of the world’s greatest interpreters of Giselle and Albrecht when I first danced the title role in this beautifully distilled adaptation by Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg,” says Murphy, ARB’s Artistic Associate. “It is truly a full circle moment and incredibly fulfilling to now be entirely focused on guiding the next generation of dancers as they embody these iconic roles.”

Stiefel and Kobborg’s Giselle has captivated audiences worldwide with its imaginative and masterful reimagining of the historic ballet. Act I features revitalized ensemble choreography, expanded dancing for the role of Hilarion, and a dynamic Wedding Couple that propel the story forward with energy and momentum. In the iconic Act II, Giselle joins the spirits of women—known as the Wilis—who, like her, died after being betrayed by their lovers. However, in this version, the Wilis are portrayed not just as ethereal, but as possessing a distinct, compelling strength. In addition, the character Albrecht, Giselle’s beloved, is presented with a lifelong sense of remorse, diverging from traditional interpretations.

“Johan and I created a production that strikes an elegant balance of shedding new light on the classic, yet maintaining what has made Giselle so special for so long,” says Stiefel, ARB’s Artist in Residence.

Featuring emotionally powerful and technically stunning performances, this moving production will no doubt get audiences in the Halloween spirit via this haunting tale of love, betrayal, and the supernatural.

Tickets for Giselle range from $42 to $72, not including additional 4% NBPAC Ticket Fee. Visit arballet.org to book now.

Giselle Act Two, ARB Dancer Clara Pevel, Photo by Harald Schrader Photography