New Ballet: Giselle full & family shows

New Ballet is presenting two versions of “Giselle” on Sunday, May 17, at the Hammer Theatre Center in downtown San Jose, according to the company and the venue. The schedule includes an 11 a.m. family program, “My Very First Ballet: Giselle,” and a 2 p.m. full-length performance of the Romantic-era classic. The production is part of New Ballet’s 2025-26 season and runs May 16-17 at the Hammer Theatre. New Ballet says the 2026 staging is led by Artistic Director Dalia Rawson. ### Which performances are scheduled for Sunday, May 17? Sunday’s first curtain is at 11 a.m. for “My Very First Ballet: Giselle,” a shortened version aimed at toddlers, preschoolers and families, according to New Ballet and Hammer Theatre Center. The company says the family performance uses carefully selected excerpts from both acts. The second Sunday performance is at 2 p.m. for the full-length “Giselle,” according to New Ballet’s spring production page and the company’s season listings. DoTheBay also lists the event at Hammer Theatre Center in San Jose for the same weekend. ### Where is it happening in San Jose? Hammer Theatre Center lists the venue as 101 Paseo de San Antonio in downtown San Jose. New Ballet’s performance materials identify the Hammer as the site for its spring ballet and provide the venue box office number. The Hammer describes itself as a downtown San Jose performance venue operated by San Jose State University. Its plan-your-visit page says the theater is near restaurants, hotels and public transportation. (newballet.com) ### What is New Ballet saying about this staging of “Giselle”? New Ballet describes the 2026 production as a “world premiere re-staging” by Dalia Rawson, its artistic director. The company says the production offers a fresh interpretation rooted in the ballet’s original choreography. Hammer Theatre Center uses similar language in promoting the show, calling it a fresh interpretation and saying Rawson’s staging honors the work’s legacy while revisiting its central themes. (newballet.com) New Ballet identifies “Giselle” as its annual spring story ballet for 2026. ### What does the family version include? New Ballet says “My Very First Ballet: Giselle” is designed for young children and their families. The company’s family-ballet page says the program runs about one hour with no intermission and is danced to recorded music. Hammer Theatre Center’s event listing says the show features excerpts from both acts suitable for toddlers and preschoolers. That format differs from the full-length afternoon production, which is billed separately as “Giselle.” (newballet.com) ### Who is involved in the production? Dalia Rawson is named by New Ballet as the artistic director behind the 2026 staging. New Ballet’s season page also places “Giselle” within a broader lineup that includes “Fast Forward” in March 2026 and “The San Jose Nutcracker” during the holiday season. Stefana Seizovic and Jack Concordia are pictured in promotional materials for “Giselle” on New Ballet’s spring page, with photography credited to Tony Abello. (newballet.com) The company’s casting and rehearsal pages say all listed rehearsals and performances for the spring production take place at Hammer Theatre Center. ### Where can people find tickets and final details? New Ballet, Hammer Theatre Center and DoTheBay each list ticket and event information for the May 16-17 run. The company’s performance pages direct patrons to the Hammer Theatre box office for spring ballet venue details. Sunday’s remaining public information centers on the two posted showtimes — 11 a.m. for “My Very First Ballet: Giselle” and 2 p.m. for the full-length “Giselle” — at Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. (newballet.com)