Behind-the-scenes shots from the National Ballet classic Giselle

Giselle is the ballerina’s Hamlet: an enduring classic with a title role that’s both highly coveted and extremely demanding. The National Ballet of Canada first performed the show in the 1950s, and it’s remained in its repertoire ever since. Generations of dancers have taken the stage as the heartbroken peasant girl, her lovers or the ghastly spectres that bring her back to life. Daniel Neuhaus, Toronto Life’s director of photography, attended a rehearsal for the Ballet’s new production, which opens Wednesday night, and captured the latest wave of dancers to take on the beautifully spooky ballet.