What is Coppélia?
Written by Teresa S. Berline
Why, I am so glad that you have asked...
Coppélia is the story of a young couple, Swanhilda and Franz, who we think are very much in love. They live in a simple village enjoying a simple life.
Living in the same village is Dr. Coppelius, an absent-minded nutty inventor. He works daily on his inventions, and one day he creates a beautiful doll that he sits in the window of his mad-hatter house.
Franz walks by and sees the beautiful doll and thinks it is a person. He is inquisitive to say the least and starts to frequently walk by so that he sees the doll's lovely face. Swanhilda follows him one day and sees that Franz seems to fancy this beauty. She wants to get to the bottom of what is going on.
Swanhilda and her friends decide to sneak into Dr. Coppelius’ home (Ummmmmm, ladies that is a no no!) and they find the doll. Swanhilda decides to switch clothing with the doll to see what Franz is up to… (naughty girl!).
Dr. Coppelius comes back and starts to work on his doll. “Dr. Coppelius…it is not a doll…You have been completely fooled!” Swanhilda has a bit of fun with Dr. Coppelius and now he thinks his doll has come to life.
Fun ensues with this mistaken identity.
The beauty of the Ballet Spartanburg adaptation is the new twist that Lona Gomez, Artistic Director, and Analay Saiz, Ballet Master, have added: 20 little baby dolls wearing classic tutus who dance across the stage. The stage has a funky, Halloween vibe, and the dancers wear new vibrant and colorful costumes created by Marcos Reyna Company from Mexico City, along with Maxine Moehlenbrock's mazurka costumes.
There is energy from the little boys who pick a tug-of-war with Dr. Coppelius - and the beautiful dancing of Swanhilda’s friends. The stage is filled with fun antics and there is never a dull moment.
This ballet is for the family to enjoy laughing together: to release the phones from your hands, to value the artistic excellence of ballet, to hear the beautiful composition created by Leo Delibes and well, all in all……just to be with your family to watch the beauty of ballet.
If you haven’t seen a ballet in Spartanburg, think to yourself, why haven’t I given ballet a chance? Then come to the Chapman Cultural Center October 17-19th and we will hook you with the beauty……and you will come back! I promise. Well, I hope you will!
Carlos Agudelo, 2023 SC Governor's Award for an Individual
Ballet Spartanburg's Artistic Director, Carlos Agudelo, was awarded the South Carolina Governor's Award from the South Carolina Arts Commission on May 23, 2023, at the Chapman Cultural Center. The award was presented by Mr. David Platt, Executive Director of the South Carolina Arts Commission. "We recognize the unparalleled energy, enthusiasm, devotion and love for dance that Carlos has gifted to our community out of his passion for all to experience the arts for the past 32 years. We are overjoyed that Carlos has been recognized by the South Carolina Arts Commission, " Teresa S. Berline, Executive Director. "The South Carolina Arts Commission is an extraordinary organization in our state which promotes and advocates opportunities in the arts which values equality, access, diversity and inclusion. Ballet Spartanburg is honored by the support of the South Carolina Arts Commission and the recognition of Carlos Agudelo."
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