3 days ago
Q & A with ABT Ballerina Chloe Messeldine on Performing Giselle This Saturday July 26, 2PM At The Segerstrom
Chloe Misseldine, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre Photo by Kyle Froman, Courtesy American Ballet Theatre
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
