This February, Lessingtage, one of Europe’s most respected theatre festivals, will spotlight contemporary Japanese creativity with Giselle : A Summary, a bold dance performance by Aichi Prefectural Art Theater. Presented with the support of the Japan Creator Support Fund as part of its programme to strengthen cultural facilities as hubs for artistic creation and international exchange, the production will be staged at Thalia Theater on 6 and 7 February, marking its first international staging and a festival highlight featured in Das Programmheft der Lessingtage 2026.
Reconstructing Giselle: A new perspective on ballet
Giselle : A Summary deconstructs and reconstructs Giselle, one of classical ballet’s most iconic works, to question the very possibilities of ballet today. Conceived and produced under the artistic direction of Eri Karatsu, the work is the second chapter in Aichi Prefectural Art Theater’s ongoing project to reimagine classical ballet for contemporary audiences. The piece is a collaboration between Hana Sakai, one of Japan’s most celebrated ballet dancers and former principal of the New National Theatre Ballet; and Toshiki Okada, internationally renowned playwright and director, founder of the theater company chelfitsch. Since its premiere in Japan, with performances in Aichi, Kanagawa, and Osaka, the work has drawn significant attention for its innovative form and conceptual depth. On stage, Sakai appears as a YouTuber-like narrator, recounting the story of Giselle while reflecting on her own long and intimate relationship with the role. The performance fluidly intertwines live dance and digital storytelling, drawing audiences into a hybrid world where stage and online culture intersect.
Part of the “Constellation” Dance Project
The Hamburg performances mark the first overseas presentation of a work created under “Constellation,” Aichi Prefectural Art Theater’s international dance project launched in 2024, with the support of the Japan Creator Support Fund. “Constellation,” derived from the Japanese term for “star cluster,” envisions a network connecting audiences, artists, and theaters across borders. Through this initiative, the theater aims to function as a global hub for dance creation, fostering long-term international exchange beyond differences of nationality, generation, and cultural background.
Following its European debut, Giselle : A Summary is expected to continue touring internationally, serving as a key example of how Japanese public cultural institutions are proactively engaging with global audiences. For more information, click here.
Giselle : A Summary will be presented from 6 – 7 February, at Thalia Theater in Hamburg, Germany. For tickets and more information, visit www.thalia-theater.de/en/whats-on/giselle-a-summary/260.
