Today’s prompt is layers and the first thing we think of is clothing. I’ll get to that later but I wanted to talk about a wonderful ballet I went to see at the Hippodrome on Friday.
I didn’t know much about the ballet before going but it was a six part ballet with all scenes written by women and celebrating women. It was described as a journey to the moon and back and was full of layers.
each tells a story of tackling universal themes through sweeping dramatic movements and intimate moments of dark and light. The whole piece is based on the book ‘Once upon a Time in Birmingham – Women who Dared to Dream’ by Louise Palfreyman.
The first act, Terra starts with the circle of life on earth, and features children singing and dancing. They sing about the circle of life beginning with the sea and how the earth is influenced by the cycles of the moon.
The second Act, which was my favourite, was Learning to Dream Big.
I imagined children dreaming…across the world they look up and see the same moon – Seeta Patel
The five female dancers used books, which lit up, to learn how to achieve their dreams. Which were all different. When one of the dancers was wavering the other’s were there to support her and find her voice.
The next act, Unwavering was a little different with beautiful music from Faure. A daughter dances with her father who encourages her to lift up and reach for her dreams with the moon as her inspiration.
It is an invitation to our audience to never give up and fight with all their might for their goals and dreams – Thais Suarez
Empowerment was the next act. Again the children were singing and dancing there message is a pleas a coming from the next generation to fight for our planet and humanity.
Where truth should be there is silence
Where action should be there is ignorance
Where unity should be there are walls
Where hope should be there is darkness – Laura Attridge
Where the last act had a lot of colour the next, Overexposed was visually different. It was based on Birmingham artist Barbara Walker. In her art she bleaches out (overexposes) those in control. Portraying them instead in monochrome. The woman in the piece is the only one in colour, the male dancers are all white, with white masks. The central figure is being controlled by a range of faceless external forces until she is released.
Finally we had Luna, symbolising reaching for the stars. In the final moments we return back to earth once more looking at the moon underneath the shared sky. Again the children are singing, I am the sky.
The moon is a plays of unworldly reality. Of hopes and dreams – Wubkje Kuindersma.
The whole piece came together as a selection of wonderfully entertaining layers.
My Outfit for the night
I do like to get dressed up for a night out, it’s not always easy to look good in a wheelchair but this week I treated myself to a new coat from Lighthouse Clothing I’ve been looking for a coat to go with my new Mia Tui bag which I bought because it can be used as a shoulder bag or around the waist, which is great when you are in a wheelchair. The problem was, I bought a bag in my favourite colour purple, which was great in the summer, but when it came to having to layer up in colder weather I had nothing to match. My coat was green!
So I was really happy to find this Plum coloured coat, and while I was there I also bought the lovely floral dress which is in the most fabulous stretchy soft cotton….and…it has pockets!! I love them both. Here I am outside the theatre waiting to go in for the show.
When it gets colder or wetter I will zip up the coat and have my bag on the outside. It also has a hood and it’s so cosy and warm. Have you started layering up yet?
Day one Welcome to Blogtober 2024
Day two Living to Die and Dying to Live
Day Three Autumn Traditions Around the World
Yay! I am so pleased you made it out to the ballet!
What a great show, celebrating women! It all sounds beautiful.
Your new coat looks great! I love the colour!
I’ve been layering up and I love it although sometimes I put too many layers on and end up too warm. Oops.