Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, and what better way to kick things off than with a trip to see Dada Masilo’s interpretation of ‘Giselle’, coming to the Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th October. Described by Dance Magazine as ‘Exhilarating. Bold, brazen, unapologetic and absolutely enrapturing’, this performance is one that will not disappoint.

The lauded South African choreographer is known for her innovation and unparalleled creative vision, and this reimagining of the classic ballet is no different. Masilo isn’t one to shy away from a challenge, having previously reworked Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. Not only does Masilo choreograph this performance, but she also performs the titular role herself. Performing a unique fusion of ballet and contemporary & traditional Tswana dance, she shows just why she deserves the renown that she possesses.

The piece is set in a South African village, with Masilo’s Giselle imagined as a peasant girl who suffers betrayal when her lover rejects her. She is guided by a Sangoma, traditional South African healer to navigate this new course of anguish. In another break from tradition, the Wilis’s who are typical female in most versions of Giselle, are both male and female in Masilo’s version. Masilo’s states that her Giselle was aimed to empower “I did aim to make a work which empowers women who are expected to be understanding, soft, tolerant and forgiving”, something which seems especially relevant with a backdrop of Black History Month, to have an empowered black Giselle, who is no longer a powerless victim of circumstance.

In interview, Masilo explains the decision to set the piece in South Africa “I’ve set it in rural South Africa, so we are dealing with different cultures and traditions. It’s about how people interact, how relationships are formed and the dynamics of those relationships in rural South Africa, which is completely different from the world of classical ballet,”. She then elaborates further “I did not consciously set out to ‘Africanise’ Giselle. It is just that I am South African – this is where my roots are”. The setting of the piece is especially relevant to Black History Month, given South Africa’s troubled racial history, but also the fact Masilo has chosen a setting for the piece which is especially resonant with the personal history of herself and her family. The piece is a sensational celebration of South African culture, especially the incorporation of music by South African composer Philip Miler, which features a unique fusion of classical strings with African percussion and voice.

This cinematic tour-de-force promises to stay with you long after it finishes.

Tickets on sale now from £15, book soon to avoid disappointment.