Brief Encounter With … Nancy Osbaldeston

Ballet Dancer, Nancy Osbaldeston is a local, who has gone from visiting the Palace Theatre in Manchester, to treading the boards there, later this month in the English National Ballet‘s current production of Giselle. We caught up with her to find out about the ballet and her love of theatre.

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The Palace is your local theatre. How do you feel about performing here?
I feel very lucky because it means my family and friends can all come and watch me. The Palace theatre is also just along from the Dancehouse where I used to do all my RAD exams so it brings back a fair few memories.
 
What’s been the most interesting aspect of being a ballet dancer for the ENB?
I didn’t realise when I first joined the company that we would travel abroad so much. Already in my first year we have been to Hong Kong, Dubai, Italy and we are going to Barcelona before Manchester and then Greece afterwards. You never know where you’ll be going next!
 
Tell us a bit about Giselle…..
It’s only a 2 act ballet and the gist of the story is that in the first act Giselle falls in love with Duke Albrecht who deceives her and she ends up dying of a broken heart. Then in act 2 she joins the wiles who our a group of bitter female spirits who have all been abandoned by men. They spend their time dancing men to death as revenge. Duke Albrecht becomes one of these unlucky guys but is saved by Giselles deep love for him. It’s my first time doing the production and I can’t wait to start touring with it, especially because Manchester is the first place we go to.
 
What have you seen recently at the theatre that you have enjoyed and why?
I came home in the holidays and went to see Carlos Acosta at the Lowry because my friend Junor was performing with him as well as Daria Klimentova, Begona Cao and Anais Chalendard who are all in ENB. It was just the five of them but it was a brilliant show- they did Apollo, Afternoon of a Faun, Young Apollo and A Suite of Dances. Junor and Anais’s pas de deux was choreographed by Adam Houghland. I’ve never seen anything like it before, the movements were so fresh and unique. I really enjoyed it! Daria is one of my favourite dancers so I always enjoy watching her dance and Begona looked beautiful in Afternoon of a Faun. The solo that Carlos Acosta did really showed off his charm and personality which greatly entertained the northern audience.
 
If someone has a stuffy image of ballet, what would you say to get them to come and see Giselle?
I would say that they should give it another chance especially because our production of Giselle is particularly beautiful. It’s like going out to the cinema but better because it’s live and we are all dancing for you.

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Nancy Osbaldeston was talking to Glenn Meads

The English National Ballet tour of Giselle opens at the Palace Theatre and runs from Wed 23 – Sun 27 September. For more details, click here.