The ballet “Giselle” is based on an old poetic legend about the “villises” – brides who have died before their wedding.
At midnight, the legend says, the villises come out of their graves and dance, as if seeking to prolong their maidenly dances and games, which death has so cruelly interrupted.
Woe to the traveller who meets them – possessed by a vengeful feeling, the villises draw him into their round dance and spin him to exhaustion until he falls dead….