*Madame Butterfly: Theatricality+Artistry

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Totally saw the Northern Ballet's production of Madame Butterfly last night and was completely, completely BLOWN AWAY! As I previously mentioned, although scripted as an Italian opera, the version that my classmates and I were lucky enough to see was performed as a ballet.

Everything from the music to the costuming, to the precision with which the dancers executed their fluid and graceful movements was amazing! I cannot even begin to wonder how many hours the dancers had to train to obtain such stamina and strength....

Anyway, for those who don't know, the tragic opera tells the story of Butterfly, a Japanese girl who marries an American and is willing to sacrifice everything she knows for his love. She does, and when he leaves she spends a great deal of time waiting for his return. When he does return, he discovers her with a child, and she discovers him with a new, American wife. What's a gal to do when she gives up everything for love, and then her love gives her up? Guess you should read it and find out... :p

...performance shots. credit: Martin Bell, Merlin Hendy, Brian Slater

 From an inspirational point of view, [..and maybe this is true for most productions I have seen] I often marvel at the creativity of the costumes and sets. This was especially true for this ballet as, with such a rich and colorful culture as that of the Japanese, you can imagine how aesthetically pleasing the entire performance was.

gorgeous Japanese culture

In fact, [and here comes the fashion twist] many designers have been inspired previously by a) the Japanese culture and, b) more specifically Madame Butterfly. *refer to pictures*

dresses by Galiano for Dior [inspired by Butterfly] and some Japanese inspired editorial shots..

Moral of the story? Don't fall in love.

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