National Ballet of Japan takes its 'Giselle' to Royal Opera House in London

Japan Times

11-04-2025

She's one of the most enduringly popular figures of classical ballet: Giselle, the deceived young peasant girl with a pure heart.
The role of Giselle was one of the most defining ones for Miyako Yoshida as a ballerina. Now, in her fifth year as the artistic director of the National Ballet of Japan (NBJ), Yoshida takes her original production of 'Giselle' to London for what will be NBJ's first official tour in the United Kingdom. Although the ballet company has performed internationally before by invitation (in 2008 in New York for a special Japan Festival and in 2009 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia), it is the first time it has initiated its own tour, financially backed by the Kinoshita Group and supported by The Royal Opera House in London.
First performed in Paris in 1841 with music composed by Adolphe Adam and choreographed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, 'Giselle' tells the story of tragic betrayal and transcendent compassion. When Giselle's lover, huntsman Albrecht, turns out to be a nobleman in disguise and betrothed to another, the shock plummets the girl into madness and then death. Overcome by remorse, Albrecht visits her grave but is tormented by the Wilis, vengeful spirits of unwed maidens, determined to punish him.
The 2022 production of 'Giselle' is revived this year at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, and will be brought to London in July, which will be the first official visit to the U.K. for the National Ballet of Japan. |
Takashi Shikama
Yoshida first staged her own production of 'Giselle' in 2022 to celebrate the NBJ's 25th anniversary season. With additional choreography by Alastair Marriott, Yoshida reworked the perennial favorite with an emphasis on dramatic characterization while staying true to its romantic, supernatural essence.
It was her debut production as the artistic director, and it won rave reviews for its emotional depth. Costumes and settings by Dick French also drew praise for a balance between lively, pastoral elegance and the haunting simplicity of its supernatural realm.
This spring, the NBJ opens a much-anticipated first revival of Yoshida's 'Giselle' at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, shows through to April 20.
Heartfelt homecoming
In July, Yoshida will take her production of 'Giselle' to Covent Gardens at The Royal Opera House in London, where she was a principal ballerina at The Royal Ballet until 2010.
Yoshida says it is exciting to bring 'Giselle' back to England, where she dazzled audiences for over 25 years. She joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet (formerly Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet) in 1984 at age 18 under artistic director Sir Peter Wright, gaining principal status by 1988.
It was Wright who first pushed Yoshida to tackle the role of Giselle. She admits taking on such a demanding character was intimidating at first.
'While I was eager to take on other full-length ballets without hesitation, 'Giselle' was the one that felt like a daunting challenge,' Yoshida says. 'At the time, I struggled with acting and expressing myself fully on stage. Sir Peter personally guided me from the very beginning, which was rare, as he was the artistic director and not often directly involved in coaching.'
Miyako Yoshida, artistic director of the National Ballet of Japan, honed her career as a ballerina for 25 years in the United Kingdom before returning to Japan. |
Jorgen Axelvall
Wright dubbed Yoshida 'the complete prima ballerina,' and he trained her in Birmingham until he retired in 1995. Afterward, she moved full time to The Royal Ballet in London, from where she retired in 2010.
Admitting she feels a 'sense of responsibility' to Wright in staging her own version, it's easy to understand why the ballet is so significant for Yoshida.
''Giselle' has become a culmination of everything I've absorbed over the decades,' she says. 'The ballet contains my own history — it reflects my journey in the U.K., where I grew both as a dancer and a person. Bringing this production back to the U.K. is deeply meaningful.'
Putting her dancers first
Among her numerous accolades, Yoshida has been awarded the UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2004, honored with an Order of the British Empire in 2007 and recognized in Japan with both an Order of Merit, Purple Ribbon in2007 and the Kikuchi Kan Award in 2019.
With her long international career as a dancer behind her, Yoshida is now focusing on the growth of her dancers. Besides expanding their repertoire with productions like 'Giselle,' she wants to offer them the challenge of touring internationally and dancing at one of the most revered theaters in Europe.
Yoshida's various experiences as a dancer — with and without the support of a prestigious, national company — make her determined to improve conditions in Japan, where being a professional dancer has not, traditionally, been an easy path, even at the very top. Unfortunately, professionals often seek additional work outside dance or pursue individual sponsorships in order to keep performing.
'Our goal has been to create an environment where dancers can sustain their livelihoods through their performances at the theater — not just by increasing the number of performances and raising their pay, but by ensuring that they have a stable, professional working environment,' Yoshida says.
From introducing personal training programs and increasing opportunities for conditioning, body maintenance and physical treatments, Yoshida aims to raise the standard of care across all aspects of a dancer's life. 'I'm making a conscious effort to listen to the dancers' opinions,' she says.
"Giselle" was Miyako Yoshida's debut production as the artistic director of the National Ballet of Japan, and it won rave reviews for its emotional depth. |
Takashi Shikama
She has also continued the institution's focus on education. NNTT Ballet School, founded in 2001 as a two-year full-time training center to prepare dancers for the professional level, added a preparatory phase for younger dancers in 2009.
Currently, 24 of the 72 ballet company members have been educated through NNTT Ballet School, while the ballet school's acting director and former principal dancer with NBJ, Miwa Motoshima, is a graduate of the school's very first cohort.
'We want to develop dancers who align with NBJ's style,' says Yoshida. 'Once they join the company, I want to push them artistically as much as possible. But in order to do that, they need a strong foundation — the technical skills and vocabulary necessary to progress further. Education is the key. That's where everything starts.'
From reviewing the current structure of dancer's contracts to creating new works that will solidify the identity of the company, Yoshida is looking forward to the future.
'I want people to see how powerful and deeply moving professional dance in performance can be,' says Yoshida. 'I hope audiences can experience that for themselves live in the theater.'
For more information, visit the official website nntt.jac.go.jp/english/ballet-dance