A Maple Ridge dancer will be playing two roles in Coastal City Ballet’s Canadian premiere of Giselle.
Erik Bruendl will be playing the roles of Wilfred, the prince’s attendant, and also that of a peasant.
For Bruendl this is the best of both worlds.
In the role of the peasant there is a lot of dancing and the role of Wilfred there is more acting.
“It’s nice for me because it kind of gives me the chance to do both and work on both aspects of my artistic development,” said Bruendl, explaining that unless you are in one of the principal roles it is rare that you get to do both dancing and acting in a production.
Giselle is a love story about Duke Albrecht who dresses up as a peasant to court a beautiful, young maiden in the village named Giselle whom he has fallen in love with.
However a gamekeeper named Hilarion is also with the peasant girl.
Love and jealousy are the two main themes in the ballet explains Bruendl.
“There are the two guys who love (Giselle) and are jealous. And the one in the end who ends up suffering because of it is unfortunately her, even though she is the innocent one,” he said.
Bruendl has performed in other Coastal City Ballet productions including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
”Giselle is kind of the next big one I haven’t done,” he said, adding that many young dancers don’t get the chance to perform in full-length ballets.
One of the biggest challenges playing two roles in this ballet is having to switch roles from a high-class attendant to a carefree peasant.
“I have to carry myself differently. Walk differently, act differently. So for me personally because I am playing just the two roles I have to swap back and forth and remember who I am each time I am on stage,” he said.
This is Coastal City Ballet’s 6th season.
Giselle is choreographed by Irene Schneider.
Vancouver Coastal City Ballet’s production of Giselle will take place at 8 p.m. at The Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street in Vancouver on May 19 and at the Surrey Arts Centre, 13750 88 Avenue, June 9.
For more information go to coastalcityballet.com.