Colorado Ballet’s Giselle

Colorado Ballet’s Giselle

Photo by Mike Watson. Artists of Colorado Ballet. Image courtesy of Colorado Ballet.
Photo by Mike Watson. Artists of Colorado Ballet. Image courtesy of Colorado Ballet.

The way to a Halloween lover’s heart: pale-faced elongations and a haunting performance.

Colorado Ballet’s Giselle evoked ghostly love in its opening night performance. Maria Mosina, though initially striking as a tad on the older side, filled the role of Giselle magnificently. Her tourtured heart breakdown was reminiscent of a Carrie meets The Exorcist meets Snow White. Yes, it was tourtured, fragmented, at moments a bit psychotic and at times tender. Like Shakespeare’s Ophelia toe-up in the river, Maria collapses in heart-break taking with her the audience.

As a Wili, Maria spun and fluttered with the ghoulish softness of Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas mixed with the dance power of a 19-year Colorado of Ballet veteran. She owned the floor and the audience.

In compliment, the corpse de ballet proved stunning with impeccable timing, spacing and energy. As backdrop, the set’s towering trees billowed their detailed texture into the orchestra section. While the lighting had each of the dancer’s translucent and hallow.

If you are looking for an evening night on the town to welcome October, go see Giselle. Take a friend. Call a neighbor. The only thing that lacked in the performance was the sight of people under the age of 60. Come on Denver, we have culture that is beckoning you – go see a performance!


W. Celeste Davis Stragand: Published author, showcased artist and local Denverite, W. Celeste Davis Stragand is not new to the art world. Her passion for delving into the root of existence and movement will challenge and praise both choreographers and the audience. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Celeste holds two bachelor of arts degrees, one in Chemistry and the other in English. She is also a graduate of Naropa University holding a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing and Poetics from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. A former national slam team poet, Celeste is a graduate of the Downtown Denver Partnership Leadership Program and sits on the American Institute of Architects Colorado board. Her passion and enthusiasm for the kinetic arts will frolic and frenzy through the upcoming season of performances with many hopes for an encore!