Cleopatra Critique

On March 24, 2018 at 5:30 pm, Cleopatra, was performed by Columbia City Ballet in Columbia, South Carolina. This performance took place at the Koger Center for the Arts in a proscenium theater. The ballet Cleopatra, was originally created by Michel Folkine and was set in Egypt. Cleopatra demonstrates the story of two lovers, Cleopatra and Marc Antony immediately falling in love. The performance etiquette of the dancers were somewhat unexpectedly sexual. In addition to the performance, the costumes, designed by Alexis Doktor, were very provocative, but nicely connected with the scenery. The scenery was designed originally by Barry Sparks. Additionally, William Starett choreographed the rest of the performance. Given the opportunity to see Cleopatra

The first prop to catch my eyes was the Goddess Isis. I first glanced at the prop thinking it was a real person and was amazed at the arm strength of the performer. It turned out to be a statue of a beautiful Goddess wearing a green dress, sitting on top of stone, as the handmaidens performed their morning ritual. While the Queen of Egypt awakened, sixteen handmaidens, danced around stage surrounding Cleopatra’s bed. The movement of the handmaidens consisted of ballerina walks, runs, with the port de bra in a circular motion, and bowing down to the Goddess Isis in diagonals. Cleopatra began to awaken as smoke cluttered behind the bed, and the curtains of the bed were opened to introduce the Queen of Egypt. Cleopatra was wearing a purple bra-like top and skirt with a rhinestone headpiece to top it off. Her movement for her introduction remained downstage center with a slow leg extension into an arabesque, promenading into an attitude with the same leg, and ending in a poncho to a

Apparently, a party was going to occur with each of the guards and handmaidens. This movement was very sexual as the guards were on top of the handmaidens. This was nothing of what would be expected in a professional ballet. The entire audience seemed shocked by this provocative movement. Soon after the sexual movement came to an end, the Roman Dictator, Julius Caesar arrived in hope to see Cleopatra, after learning of her disappearance. Julius Caesar entered with a grand allegro and the handmaidens were performing Italian fouettés in the background. Cleopatra was strangely brought into the throne room wrapped in a rug, and revealed wearing a red costume, designed like the others. Both Cleopatra and the Roman Dictator performed a partnered adagio with many lifts and pirouettes, leading the dictator under her spell of love. Unfortunately, the Roman Dictator condemned her brother to his death due to his betrayal. The couples love had been consummated as Julius Caesar led her into her bed chamber, dropped his skirt, and the curtains closed as he laid with