Ballet in Cinemas: The Royal Ballet's 'Giselle' to Have Encore Screening at TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi from July 16! Principal Aya Takada's Performance Draws Enthusiasm from Fans of 'Etoile Blooming in Paris'

Experience the world-class stage of The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House as if you were there—'The Royal Ballet & Opera in Cinema' brings the finest British ballet performances to cinemas nationwide. Selected popular titles from their repertoire are presented with innovative, dramatic staging on the big screen with immersive sound.

'The Royal Ballet & Opera in Cinema 2025/26' ran from December 19, 2025 (Fri) to July 9, 2026 (Thu), releasing nine productions across Japan.

Giselle: A Tale of Love and Death, Performed by Japanese Principal Aya Takada

Fueled by Fan Passion from 'Etoile Blooming in Paris'

An Unprecedented Encore Screening Announced!

Since its premiere at the Paris Opéra in 1841, 'Giselle' has stood as the pinnacle of Romantic ballet, performed worldwide with legendary ballerinas delivering iconic interpretations. The ballet contrasts two distinct worlds: the pastoral village setting of Act I, where tragedy unfolds, and Act II’s moonlit graveyard, where the ghostly 'Wilis' dance.

Giselle, a village girl who loves to dance but suffers from a weak heart, is betrayed by her lover Albrecht, a nobleman disguised as a peasant. Overcome by despair, she takes her own life. After death, she becomes one of the Wilis—spirits of jilted brides—but still protects Albrecht from their deadly dance. A masterpiece blending narrative depth and spectacle, 'Giselle' unites reality and fantasy through choreography and mime, transcending time with its emotional and dramatic power.

The March 2025 anime film 'Etoile Blooming in Paris' featured a pivotal scene where the heroine Fujiko watches a performance of 'Giselle' in 1910s Yokohama, sparking her passion for ballet. The other heroine, Chizuru, trains in Paris and eventually performs as a member of the corps de ballet—the Wilis—in a production of 'Giselle' at the Paris Opéra. The ballet captivates both heroines.

As a result, many fans of 'Etoile Blooming in Paris' flocked to cinemas to see The Royal Ballet’s 'Giselle.' At TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi, the initial one-week run starting May 29 (Fri) saw consecutive sold-out shows, leading to a one-week extension.

Now, in an unprecedented move, an encore screening has been scheduled after the full 'Royal Ballet & Opera in Cinema 2025/26' season has concluded.

Principal dancer Aya Takada delivered a commanding performance as Giselle. In the peasant pas de deux of Act I, Japanese rising stars Sae Maeda and Daichi Igarashi appeared among the six soloists. With Japanese dancers now thriving in international companies, this resonated deeply with audiences.

Additionally, Takada was originally scheduled to perform in The Royal Ballet’s 2026 Japan tour in July, but had to withdraw due to a leg injury. This encore screening offers a rare chance to witness her acclaimed portrayal of Giselle once again.

Encore Screening at TOHO Cinemas Nihonbashi

July 17 (Fri) – July 23 (Thu)

★ Check the theater’s official website for screening schedules: https://hlo.tohotheater.jp/net/schedule/073/TNPI2000J01.do

Official Website: http://tohotowa.co.jp/roh/

Official X (Twitter): https://x.com/rbocinema

Distributor: Toho-Towa

#RBOGiselle

[STORY]

Act I

A village in the Rhineland, Germany. Giselle, a village girl who loves dancing but is frail, falls in love with Loys, a villager—actually Count Albrecht, a nobleman in disguise. Her superstitious mother, Berthe, wishes Giselle to marry Hilarion, the gamekeeper, and warns her that Loys is untrustworthy. Berthe tells Giselle the legend of the Wilis: young women who died before marriage become spirits who force men they encounter from midnight to dawn to dance until death. Giselle ignores her mother and joins Loys in the harvest festival celebrations.

Wilfred, Albrecht’s servant, warns him that a hunting party led by Duke Courland and his daughter, Princess Bathilde—Albrecht’s fiancée—is approaching. Albrecht hides, but Hilarion, who is in love with Giselle, spies on them and decides to expose Albrecht’s true identity. The hunting party arrives; Giselle dances for them and tells Bathilde she already has a fiancé. Bathilde gives Giselle a necklace as a token of blessing and says she will rest at Berthe’s cottage. The Duke continues hunting and leaves a horn so Bathilde can summon him when ready to rejoin.

Hilarion emerges from Loys’ cottage and finds Albrecht’s sword. The sword bears the same crest as the horn, providing conclusive evidence. When Albrecht returns, Hilarion reveals that Loys is actually Count Albrecht. Hilarion blows the horn, summoning the hunting party. Bathilde emerges from the cottage and tells Giselle she is engaged to Albrecht. The truth is unbearable for Giselle; overwhelmed by grief, she descends into madness and stabs herself with Albrecht’s sword, still professing her love.

Act II

Hilarion spends the night at Giselle’s grave deep in the forest. At midnight, the Wilis appear, and Hilarion flees in terror. Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, summons her spirits and welcomes Giselle as one of them. Albrecht arrives to lay flowers on Giselle’s grave. When her spirit appears, he follows her into the forest.

Hilarion is pursued and forced to dance until exhaustion. He is driven into a lake and drowns.

The Wilis now target Albrecht. Myrtha commands him to dance, but Giselle draws him to the protection of a cross. However, Myrtha orders Giselle to dance with him, forcing him to dance to the point of death. Though Giselle tries to protect him, Albrecht grows weaker as the night progresses. Just as death nears, dawn breaks. Morning light breaks the Wilis’ power, and they vanish. Giselle returns to her grave and disappears, leaving Albrecht alone in sorrow.

Giselle

Choreography: Marius Petipa

Original Choreography: Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot

Music: Adolphe Adam

Libretto: Théophile Gautier (after Heinrich Heine)

Direction and Additional Choreography: Peter Wright

Set Design: John Macfarlane

Lighting: David Finn (after original design by Jennifer Tipton)

Staging: Christopher Carr, Samantha Raine

Senior Repetiteur: Samira Saidi

Repetiteurs: Jean Athimétaëf, Ciaran Murphy

Principal Coaching: Alexander Agoultin, Liane Benjamin, Darcy Bussell, Stuart Cassidy, Olga Eyre