Giselle is one of the most sought-after roles for a ballerina, but what of Albrecht, the man who breaks her heart and causes her to die, and who is only saved from death himself by Giselle’s ghost?

“Albrecht is often called the Hamlet of ballet as he has some wonderfully challenging dancing in Act II, but is also a very complex character to portray through the ballet,” says David McAllister, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, who danced the role himself many times.

Brodie James, a soloist at TAB, is one of the dancers chosen to portray Albrecht in the current season, having played the role on the 2016 Regional Tour – “a career highlight” to date. James is “super excited” to now be performing the role on the mainstage in Maina Gielgud’s production of the romantic two act-ballet, and is looking forward to finding new things in it. “I think with every principal role, no matter how many times you do it, you are always going to come back and do it a bit differently,” he says.

Brodie James, Giselle, Australian BalletBrodie James in The Australian Ballet’s Symphony...