Gisele began dancing in her hometown of Mesa, Arizona at four years old. She began serious ballet study at age of eleven after receiving encouragement from her ballet teacher Olga Tarasova. She attended the Young Dancer Summer Intensive program at American Ballet Theater for two summers and also the Royal Ballet School Summer Intensive at White Lodge during this time. Gisele began per-professional training with coaches Slawomir Wozniak and Irena Wozniak in 2011.
Gisele attended Youth America Grand Prix New York City Finals in 2012 and 2013 winning the Natalia Makharova Award for Artistry and the Youth Grand Prix Award respectively.She was also awarded Silver Medals at Tanzolymp 2012, World Ballet Competition 2012, and the Beijing Invitational for Ballet Schools 2012. Gisele was honored to perform in Moscow, Russia at the Bolshoi Historic Theater stage in where she won the Silver Medal for the Moscow International Ballet Competition in 2013. in 2014, she won the Gold Medal at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. She performed in the Gala and Encore Gala performances for the competition.
In 2011, she performed the role of Clara in her first Nutcracker at the Orpheum Theater for Phoenix Ballet. Thereafter, she performed the role of Sugar Plum Fairy for Phoenix Ballet in 2012, 2013, and 2014. She also performed the role of Sugra Plum Fairy for Fokine Ballet Company in 2013 with partner Slawek Wozniak and Ballet Mississippi with partner Michal Wozniak. Gisele traveled to Beijing, China in 2014 and performed in the 60th Anniversary Gala for the Beijing Dance Academy in an original work entitled "Solstice" choreographed by Francisco Gella. She performed principal roles with Phoenix Ballet in an original production called "Rising", which toured Poland in 2015.
Gisele began her first season with the Studio Company at American Ballet Theater in the 2015-2016 season. Soon after, she was promoted to the Corps de Ballet in January of 2016. Giselle continued to dance with ABT as a member of the Corps de Ballet in New York City for two more seasons, performing a multitude of classical ballets and repertoire furthering her experiences as a professional ballerina. She performed on many stages across the country and world during her time with ABT including the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, as well as the Bastille Opera House in Paris, France, among others.
After the 2018 season with American Ballet Theater, Gisele has continued to pursue her passion for dance, through independent study and performing. She plans on striving for more opportunities and growth through her love of dance as she continues her pursuit of a long and happy ballet career.
In May of 2024, Gisele made her return to the stage as Myrtha (Queen of the Wilis) in Utah Festival Ballet's full-length production of "Giselle".
This is Gisele's third year as an instructor for Utah Festival Ballet.
Gisele Bethea Farnsworth
Faculty
Gisele Bethea Farnsworth as Myrtha in Utah Festival Ballet's "Giselle"
Photo by: Pro-Pointe Photography