Giselle

Giselle, a young girl, is in love with Albert, a nobleman, who comes to her village in disguise. He is infatuated with Giselle and swears his eternal love to her. Hilarion, the village huntsman, is also in love with Giselle. He is angered by Giselle's rejection and determinded to find proof that Albert is not who he appears to be. The villagers return from the grape-harvest. Giselle loves to dance and invites them to join her. Giselle's Mother tries to stop her. She is afraid that the dance shall ruin her daughter's fragile health. She warns her of the legend of the Wilis, girls who are devoted to dancing and who die of disappointed love.
 
A hunting party stops in the village to rest and the Duke and Bathilde meet Giselle. Bathilde is enchanted by her and gives her a necklace, unaware that they are both engaged to the same man. Hilarion finds the proof he is seeking when he matches the crests of the Duke's hunting horn with Albert's sword. He reveals the truth about Albert's identity. The deception is too much for Giselle to bear. Her descent into madness leads to her death of a broken heart.

Hilarion keeps vigil at Giselle's grave by a forest lake. This is where the Wilis materialize – spirits of young girls who gather at night round their queen and dance, luring young men into their magic circle. Myrtha, the Queen of the Wilis appears and summons Giselle from her grave to be initiated into the Wilis' rites.
 
Albert comes to grieve at his beloved's grave tormented by his conscience. Giselle appears before him. She seems to take flight, beckoning for him to follow her. The Wilis pursue Hilarion, whom they dance to his death, and next fall vengefully upon Albert. Myrtha condemns him to dance until he dies, and though Giselle urges him to the safety of the cross on her grave, Myrtha commands Giselle to dance and lure Albert from the cross. Giselle tries to sustain him, but his dancing becomes more and more exhausted. Just as his death seems imminent, dawn breaks. Daylight destroys their power and the ghostly Wilis fade away. Albert's life has been saved. Giselle's spirit is released and her soul may now rest in peace.