Giselle question

[Guest Pease-blossom]

I have seen several videos of Giselle and I have a question about the choreography. In Giselle's Act 1 variation, I notice that Alessandra Ferri does an arabesque into a penchee, while Carla Fracci simply does an arabesque balance. I am wondering if there is a more "correct" way -- meaning, is doing an arabesque balance instead of a penchee sort of like cutting out some of the fouettes in Black Swan? The balance definitely seems much easier to me, but also much prettier! Is not doing the penchee seen as watering down the variation to make it more doable, or is it just a matter of taste and the decision of the dancer and/or her director?

[Mel Johnson]

I'm not sure which arabesque of the Act I variation you mean, but I will say this: historically, the arabesque held in a balance is probably more correct. The penché is actually one of the motifs of the Wilis, and unless Ferri was trying to achieve a little foreshadowing of Act II, not right for Giselle yet.