Christine Daaé sees an apparition of her dead father, who promises the little girl to send to her the angel of dance. The Paris opera ballet is preparing for a new premiere. The title role is to be danced by Charlotte, the aging prima ballerina, but she suffers an accident. Only Christine, the new member of the troupe could salvage the production, as the Phantom has sought her out and taught her all the most delicate movements. In the end, the performance and Christine meet with huge success. Years later, she meets Raoul, who feels more for her than for an idol. Charlotte finds it hard to tolerate her younger colleague’s success on the stage and in private life. The Phantom takes Christine to his realm and organises her a splendid angelic concert. But when she removes his mask, he rages and leads her out of his realm. At the masked ball the Phantom hands his libretto to the two directors of the opera. He had written a role for his beloved, Christine. Charlotte is unable to conceal her jealousy and tears the libretto to pieces, which so enrages the Phantom, that he tears down the chandelier, which squashes Charlotte. Christine realises that she had been the cause for all the mishap and flees to her father’s grave to find solace. The Phantom reveals all his secrets to Christine and confesses his love. He says that he would do anything for her and would even kill Raoul, who stands in his way. He would leave him alive only if Christine were to marry him. She accepts, for Raoul is more important to her than anything. The Phantom later understands the folly of his demand and disappears from the life of the young lovers. Perhaps he has moved to another theatre, for every theatre has its own phantom… A program by the National Dance Theatre; a part of the ’Dance Forum No 7 – In Tribute to the International Dance Day’ program series.

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