
Q & A with ABT Ballerina Chloe Messeldine on Performing Giselle This Saturday July 26, 2PM At The Segerstrom
This week American Ballet Theater is coming to Orange Country's Segerstrom Center for the Arts July 24-27 to perform the classic romantic ballet Giselle . For the evening performances, the role of Giselle will be performed by Hee Seo, Christine Shevchenko, Devon Teuscher, and Sunday's matinee by Skyler Brandt – all amazing dancers. Saturday's matinee performance, however, will feature rising star Chloe Misseldine, who became a principal dancer in July 2024, and first danced the lead role of Giselle this April. I interviewed Misseldine by phone to hear her thoughts on the character of Giselle, her performance of the role, and what the audience should look for in the production. This conversation has been edited for concision and clarity. Tickets to the upcoming performances are available from the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Tom Teicholz: Giselle is one of the oldest story ballets. Why do you think it remains so popular and so compelling both for the audience and for dancers?
Chloe Misseldine: Giselle is such a beautiful story for the audience and for the dancer because it's about forgiveness, about resilience, and about love. So that's what I think the audience feels [particularly from] that connection between the two dancers on stage when you have a great relationship with your partner, which I have.
[ Misseldine has performed Giselle only twice before ]. I'm so happy to be able to perform it again next week in Orange County. There's so many things I wanted to fix. I want it to feel different. I'm happy to approach it in a new light and find my light in it; and just to be more comfortable on stage because it's such a difficult ballet, technically and emotionally. I'm really grateful to have another opportunity to dive deeper and explore more in the role of Giselle.
Tom Teicholz: I know you had the opportunity to discuss the ballet and the role with ABT Artistic Director and former prima ballerina Susan Jaffe and Ballet legend Alessandra Ferri. What did they impart to you and how did that impact how you think about the role?
Chloe Misseldine: When I was first starting out in the role of Giselle, learning it and working on it, I worked very closely with Susan Jaffe. Both her and Alessandra were glorious, gorgeous Giselles with different approaches to [the role]…. Alessandra came to New York and coached me for three weeks straight. We worked every day, day in, day out. She wasn't telling me: I need to do this [or] this. She said, yes, this is the step, but the way you approach the step, the way you do it, can be free – [your own]. You're not tied down to one certain version…. My internal dialogue is so important for a role like this, because if you really feel intact with what you're saying, you don't have to act. It's not acting. It's just being yourself. If you have [that] internal dialogue, it will come out naturally, and the audience will feel that connection, and that you're telling the story truthfully.
Tom Teicholz: Susan Jaffe is one of the legendary performers of Swan Lake, how, how was that moment for her to come on stage at the Met and tell you you're now a principal after your own debut as Odette / Odile in Swan Lake?
Chloe Misseldine: I never expected that would happen after my New York debut in Swan Lake. [Susan Jaffe] was with me every step of the way, from the very beginning. Just to have her by my side helping me and guiding me was just so incredible. It felt very special when she promoted me.
Tom Teicholz: It must have been an out of body experience.
Chloe Misseldine: It was insane. It was the last thing I expected because I was so emotionally fulfilled from the audience, from my partner, from the whole company. I was so loved in that moment. And then to have this special promotion on stage and [to] include the audience to be a part of it. The feeling was just incredible. I had my family in the audience. It was so joyous, and I was so grateful to [Susan Jaffe] that she believed in me and continues to believe in me, not only by providing me with these amazing roles to challenge me, but to dance and work with her day in, day out. I'm just extremely grateful for her, for pushing me, and for being such a guiding light for my career, which is so important, especially as a young dancer finding her way.
Tom Teicholz: What are your thoughts about your upcoming performance as Giselle at the Segerstrom?
Chloe Misseldine: When I perform it at the Segerstrom, I definitely will be much more comfortable [in the role]… At the Met, the stage was so vast, [and it was] a sold-out performance. New York [is] where I dance, where I work. So, the stress level was definitely different. I was very nervous for my performance in New York, but now having done that performance, I have a better gauge on what to expect… I have a better understanding on how to approach this role... with my partner [Aran Bell], who I danced with in New York, who's an exceptional partner, fabulous dancer. I'm so lucky to be on stage with him.
Tom Teicholz: Last question. What should we, as an audience, be looking for in this performance coming up on Saturday?
Chloe Misseldine: There's so much to look for… the storytelling is just as important as the dancing. If you can really just engulf yourself in the story [being told by] my partner and I, and the corps de ballet, the other character artists on stage, I think you will find so much enjoyment in watching the production. The first act is completely different [from] the second Act. [In the First Act], we're humans, peasants in this era [The Renaissance Period in German]. And then in the second act, we're Willis , we're these spirit-like beings. I hope the audience can just sit back and relax and just take in every moment because it's so beautiful.
Tickets to the performances are available from the Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Big Countdown Moment Will Lead Amber and Mark to a ‘Complicated Place,' Says Jessica Camacho (VIDEO)
The following contains spoilers from the July 23 episode of , now streaming on Prime Video. The truth — and the whole truth — is now out, on Prime Video's Countdown. But where does that leave terminal Mark and a shellshocked Amber? More from TVLine Dexter: Resurrection's Kadia Saraf, Dominic Fumusa Talk Detectives' 'Moonlighting Energy' and Suspicions of Harrison Casting News: Jack Lowden Leads Berlin Noir Series, Matthew Rhys Is Invincible and More The Summer I Turned Pretty Premiere: Jer Commits an Act of Betrayal - Or Did He? You Be the Judge! We learned back in Episode 1 that veteran LAPD detective Mark Meachum (played by Jensen Ackles) had been diagnosed nine months prior with glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive and malignant type of brain tumor. Last week, DEA agent Amber Oliveras (Jessica Camacho) called out Meachum on his 'junkie'-like behavior, what with all the squinting, forehead-clutching, and taking 20 minutes to descend a stairwell. That teed up a heart-to-heart between the Hurricane Task Force partners, during which Mark confided some of his situation, framing it as 'migraines.' Amber in turn hooked Mark up with prescription pain killers. MARK'S CONFESSION STUNS AMBER In this week's Episode 7, Amber visited Mark at home and, over beers, proffered a vial of new meds that 'disrupt serotonin receptors.' Mark, though, cut her off to plainly state, 'I have a tumor.' 'What…?' a stunned Amber responded. 'Is it treatable? 'Nope.' 'How long…?' she asked of his prognosis. 'Uh, six weeks, six months… doc's not sure,' he shrugged. 'But I'll tell you this,' Mark added upon clocking his partner's concern. 'I'm not going out staring at the sunset on the beach. If I'm going out, I'm going out saving something — this city, these people. If I get that chance, that's what I'll do.' WILL THE (TRAGIC) TRUTH BRING AMBER AND MARK CLOSER? In the meantime, how will Mark's sharing of his terminal fate change things between him and Amber? The two started out at (playful) loggerheads when the task force was first formed, but they have grown closer in recent weeks. In the TVLine video above, Camacho offers, 'The fact that Meachum decides to confide in [Oliveras] means a lot to her.' The sharing of such personal information 'really takes her by surprise, it takes her aback,' the actress notes, 'and I don't think that's something that she takes lightly. Him letting her into his world in that way deepens her desire to show up for him as his partner, as a human… as someone who begins to really, deeply care for this person.' That in turn 'takes their journey' as partners, and maybe more, 'to an interesting and complicated place,' Camacho teases. Or as castmate Violett Beane, sitting beside Camacho in the video, puts it: 'You'll have to watch to find out!' Want scoop on , or for any other TV show? Shoot an email to InsideLine@ and your question may be answered via Matt's Inside Line! Best of TVLine Yellowjackets' Tawny Cypress Talks Episode 4's Tai/Van Reunion: 'We're All Worried About Taissa' Vampire Diaries Turns 10: How Real-Life Plot Twists Shaped Everything From the Love Triangle to the Final Death Vampire Diaries' Biggest Twists Revisited (and Explained)
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pete Davidson says it's been his ‘dream' to be a dad
Pete Davidson is overjoyed to be entering his dad era. The actor and comedian is expecting a child, his first, with his partner Elsie Hewitt. 'I'm very lucky and very, very happy,' he told 'E! News' while attending the New York premiere of his new horror movie 'The Home' this week. Hewitt, a model and actress, made the announcement via Instagram last week sharing photos and a clip of her and the 'SNL' alum from her sonogram. Davidson said he's gotten advice from his 'SNL' buddies Adam Sandler and Colin Jost. 'Everybody's just been super excited for me, because they know it's been my dream,' Davidson said. 'They all just have been like, 'You're going to be great at this. It's the best thing you'll ever do in your life.' Sandler gave me some great advice.' It sounds like the couple have been getting quite a bit of support. 'It's been really nice that everyone's super excited,' he said. 'When you do something, when we do anything, you want everyone to be excited, especially having a child.' Hewitt and Davidson were first publicly linked in March. Davison has previously dated several famous women including Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande. In February he talked to Page Six about why people seem so fascinated with his dating life, which has sparked memes about him being everyone's boyfriend. 'Everyone is dating everyone and it's Hollywood. But because I'm ugly, they wrote about me,' he said at the time. 'I was harassed for like five years and it made my life a living hell.' CNN's Dan Heching and Alli Rosenbloom contributed to this report.
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL fans had jokes after someone fell into the lake during the Browns' helmet unveiling
The Cleveland Browns are in midseason form, and that's not a good thing. On Wednesday, the Browns joined several teams across the league in unveiling new alternate helmets for the 2025 season. And yeah, the Browns' color scheme doesn't make for the most aesthetically pleasing uniforms, but they decided to go all in on the brown with the helmets. The team even decided to hold an unveiling ceremony on the bank of Lake Erie with a big inflatable helmet, sponsored by Dude Wipes (gross). But, of course, the Browns couldn't even make it through that event without a blooper. Someone who appeared to be filming content lost track of where they were standing and fell right into Lake Erie. Thankfully, it was just a short fall into a water, so this person appeared to be OK. But this would only happen to the Browns. NFL fans had plenty of jokes for the moment. This was how Twitter/X reacted At least Chomps had a life jacket on hand. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Fans had jokes after someone fell into lake at Browns' helmet unveil