FOLIO
Words by McKenna Oakley, Photos by Katarina Weissbach
In a culture that increasingly caters to quick dopamine boosts brought on the backs of Facebook clickbait, Amazon shopping hauls and staged Tik Toks, it was refreshing to enjoy the elegance and restraint of a timeless art form: ballet. Season after season, The Florida Ballet breathes new life into classical dance right here in Jacksonville, as well as debuting original productions. Recently, we had the pleasure of watching their rendition of “Giselle,” a ballet that tells a story of romance, tragedy, and striking ethereal beauty, at the University of North Florida’s Lazzara Performance Hall.
The History of Giselle
First performed in Paris in 1841, “Giselle” quickly became a masterwork of the classical ballet canon. The story entails a vivid romance between Giselle, a peasant girl, and Albrecht, a nobleman in disguise. Unbeknownst to Giselle, Albrecht is already engaged to a noblewoman. Upon discovering his deceit after some adorably choreographed courting, Giselle goes “mad” and dies of heartbreak, in front of Albrecht, her mother and the corpse de ballet townsfolk.
Afterward her spirit joins the Wilis, a ghostly sisterhood of women betrayed by their lovers, who now dedicate themselves to taking revenge on the men that broke their hearts. How, you may ask? In a morbidly funny fashion, death by dance is their modus operandi. Men who visit their graves succumb to physical exhaustion as the Wilis force them to perform.
Giselle, though, is a gracious soul. She protects Albrecht from their supernatural vengeance, allowing her spirit to transcend the gravesite. Our heroine finds peace while Albrecht remains on stage, grappling with his grief and remorse. (Maybe it’s just our jaded 21st-century perspective, but we think she should’ve let him suffer a bit. Alas, Giselle has us beat when it comes to forgiveness.)
Giselle Today
Even the bare bones of the ballet give viewers plenty to sink their teeth into, and The Florida Ballet’s interpretation enhanced this enchantment. The visual, choreographic and musical contrast between the two acts was staggering and accessible, even to ballet newcomers like us. We found no difficulty in following the story, quickly adapting to the expressive dance in place of dialogue.
We delighted in the first act’s romanticism, with its airy dance variations, cheerful music, and the smiling faces of the corps de ballet. We saw idealism expressed in sweeping leaps and poses with graceful, sustained balance, all against a backdrop of a charming cottage and whimsical greenery.
Then, as Giselle’s “mad scene” unfolded, we were fascinated by how the innocent optimism gave way to fragmentation. Her increasingly erratic movement recounted her fleeting romance with Albrecht, resulting in her dramatic collapse. The crowd was hushed, the classical score was low, and the face of every talented dancer on stage was downcast.
One key takeaway: The Florida Ballet understands how to make an audience experience heartache.
This emotional turn allowed for the second act to be all the more captivating, with its silvery moonlit forest and the Wilis’ daunting charisma. As the Wilis triumphed through in flawless unison, we appreciated the palpable contempt from their stoic queen, Myrtha. Myrtha was stunning with an aura of zero tolerance for “bull,” to put it casually.
The pinnacle of our amazement came to full realization, though, in Giselle and Albrecht’s pas de deux, a duet full of grief and remorse. The Florida Ballet utilized the ballet’s traditional score, and as the somber melody filled Lazzara Performance Hall, the distress at the heart of the story’s narrative was impossible to ignore.
In the score’s infrequent but impactful pauses, we cherished moments of the pas de deux when Giselle and Albrecht’s leaps landed in precise unison. Against the cool-toned hues of the set, Giselle’s flowing white chiffon shone bright like a gorgeous phantom and accentuated the choreography. Her solo variations entailed halted poses and hovering jumps that defied gravity and echoed the ballet’s theme of transcendence.
Indeed, when Giselle’s merciful spirit abandoned her cold grave, we bid farewell to the same sweet girl we came to adore in the first act.
We did not know what to expect, but The Florida Ballet shocked us with their incredible attention to detail. They make what is often treated as an “antique” art form every bit as commanding of our attention as the short-form digital media we have allowed to numb our senses.
There is something special about witnessing a performance passed down through generations of dedicated aesthetics and athleticism — and everything along the way has been 100% human. There was nothing artificially generated about the clean choreography, the decadent costuming, and the tasteful shift between Act I’s warm and charming village to Act II’s moody, indigo woodland.
To conclude what could easily become a rambling love letter — we’re proud of the work our local ballet is doing. And we’re not the only ones.
“I am immensely proud of the achievement of The Florida Ballet,” says Roberto Forleo, the artistic director of The Florida Ballet. “The dancers delivered deeply emotional performances, and Jacksonville witnessed a world-class production highlighting the evident progress of The Florida Ballet.”
Forleo’s pride in his dance company is well-earned and authentic — so much so, he and Lisa McLatchey, the Ballet’s executive director, allowed “Folio” behind the scenes to witness the dedication and artistry firsthand. We learned the history of the dance company, how they build into their local community and what performances we can look forward to next season.
Backstage with The Florida Ballet — And What’s Next!
Within The Florida Ballet’s studio space, we discovered a charming hub for Jacksonville’s arts and cultural scene. The Ballet boasts eight studios, its own intimate theater, and many nooks and crannies to store costumes, set materials and other essentials that help bring their performances to fruition. Several performing arts companies use these spaces as well as The Florida Ballet itself. Their home space is also where they host classes for all ages and levels of experience — from elementary schoolers to adults.
It is within these rehearsal spaces that Forleo told us he often draws inspiration from the professional dancers of The Florida Ballet while choreographing their productions. Though his choreography is often informed by the existing body of classical ballet arrangements, rehearsals remain a collaborative space.
“[The dancers] give me inspiration … Suddenly I see something through the mirror and I say, ‘Stop, let me see it again.’ So it does become a collaboration between the choreographer and the dancers,” Forleo says.
Speaking of choreography, we were eager to learn how Forleo balances the preservation of traditional ballet culture with creative innovation. Forleo and McLatchey explained that ballet is truly a living and breathing art form in ways you might not think.
While each company’s interpretation of a classical work, like “Giselle,” aims to honor the original score and choreography, choreographers almost always add an individual flair. With advances in technology, these varied interpretations are now better preserved than ever, allowing ballet to evolve as a blend of countless artists’ creativity and ingenuity.
“For a classical ballet like ‘Giselle,’ there is choreography ready in the repertoire,” said Forleo. “There is a record throughout the years. Yes, I adapt some little things to the company, but it’s almost minor. I try to follow as close to the original.” Forleo enjoys honoring the tradition of classical ballet by remaining as close to original arrangements as he can, while still allowing for creative expression within his company.
And as for which productions The Florida Ballet chooses for their season, several factors are considered. Some classical renditions resonate more deeply with the audience than others, inspiring their revival the following season. Then others, of course, are simply cultural staples—like “The Nutcracker.”
The Florida Ballet also frequently collaborates with the Jacksonville Symphony, which influences the dances they select.
Additionally, the size of the company’s corps de ballet ebbs and flows through the seasons, which impacts their capacity to perform certain pieces. For instance, Forleo shared that just a few years ago, the Ballet would not have been able to sustain a performance as ambitious as “Giselle.”
Though The Florida Ballet has proudly served the Jacksonville community and trained young dancers since its founding in 1978, Forleo’s professional dance company has only been performing since 2020. In just five years, their numbers and the size of their programs have grown exponentially.
Expanding The Florida Ballet and broadening its reach has been one of Forleo’s favorite parts about working with the company.
“How we grow as an organization — that is so satisfying to see it flourish. Especially when we started in 2020 during COVID. You know, we had to be really creative,” Forleo said. “Especially giving Jacksonville this opportunity to have a professional company — it’s incredible. ‘Giselle’ was a testimony of the growth of the organization.”
We certainly agree that “Giselle” was a testimonial triumph to how The Florida Ballet has planted firm roots within the Jacksonville artistic community, and building into this community is a passion both Forleo and McLatchey take seriously.
McLatchey, a Jacksonville native who grew up training with The Florida Ballet, returned after her professional dancing career to support the company from an administrative standpoint and strengthen its local impact.
The Florida Ballet’s passion for the arts and commitment to fostering this passion throughout the city is evident in everything they do. The organization nurtures numerous partnerships designed to make ballet approachable and engaging — from classes held within their studio to in-school residencies and after-school programs to their Chance to Dance collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital to offer dance workshops for children with unique needs and abilities. The Florida Ballet is dedicated to enhancing the artistic development of Jacksonville youth and providing a safe space for all ages to express themselves creatively.
From the fact that each costume featured in their performance is handmade in their own studio, to Forleo and McLatchey willingness to meet with us and provide a studio tour on the same day as their “Symphony in 60” show, everything about The Florida Ballet and its generous staff made us grateful to have them as part of our Jacksonville community. Our behind-the-scenes peek into what makes the company so special left us excited for what’s next.
So, what exactly is to come? Next season will feature adaptations of classical ballet hallmarks like “Carmen,” “Don Juan,” “Dracula,” “The Nutcracker” and “Coppélia,” alongside several original productions.
We look forward to what will undoubtedly be a striking and diverse 2025-26 season for The Florida Ballet, and we encourage you to do the same. Screens have become our go-to for entertainment, but there’s something special happening right here in Jacksonville. Try swapping a night of doom scrolling for a date with your local ballet. Like us, you might find yourself unexpectedly immersed in a world of breathtaking art. It’s not like Instagram is going anywhere.
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