Page 25 - Southern Exposure - February '22

Southern Exposure, Page 25

Section B

arTs & enTerTainmenT

A Valentine From Ballet Palm Beach

Since its Paris goes mad and dies of a broken heart. Her spirit joins the role of Giselle and Aaron Melendrez will dance the role of
premiere in 1841, supernatural Wilis; women scorned before their wedding Albrecht. Other key roles include Myrtha, the unrelenting
Giselle has become day and doomed to take their revenge for eternity. In the Queen of the Wilis played by Madeleine Miller; and
o n e o f t h e m o st end, Giselle forgives Albrecht and protects him from the Hilarion, the suspicious gamekeeper played by Aurelio
alluring and popular vengeful Wilis. What better Valentine’s Day gift for that Guimaraes.
ballets of all time. special someone in your life than tickets to Giselle? Ballet Palm Beach will present the romantic masterpiece,
Through stunning “Giselle is one of the greatest ballet classics,” said Giselle on March 4 to 6, at the Rinker Playhouse at The
classical dance and Artistic and Executive Director Colleen Smith. “The role Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are
music by Adolphe of Giselle requires brilliant dance technique. The dancer available at balletpalmbeach.org or by calling The Kravis
Adam, the ballet takes the audience through the emotions must transform from a naive peasant girl, experiencing the Center box office at (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471.
of romance, betrayal, and then forgiveness. It is a story emotions of love, betrayal, and insanity, into an ethereal
of a young peasant girl, Giselle, who is seduced and spirit. That’s a lot of emotions!”
betrayed by a prince named Albrecht. The betrayed Giselle Lily Loveland will dance the challenging and complex Arts & Entertainment on page 28

Travel

Bruges The Bridge

By Don Kiselewski, MCC, D.S., Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders

Brugge – better known the ninth century. This was to protect them from the Norman
here as Bruges – is a city of invaders. By the 13th century, Brugge held a monopoly on
medieval aspect, dotted with English wool, was a leading emporium for the Hanseatic
cathedrals and ancient homes League, and, with the other “members of Flanders” (Ghent
that are often filled with art and Ypres), virtually governed the entire province. In the
of great value. It’s located face of attack, the area maintained its independence from
in the northwest sector the French in 1302, and thereafter, grew to its commercial
of Belgium, on the Zwin zenith in the next century.
Estuary, about 10 miles south Water access to the sea was of prime importance to
of the country’s northern sea the city. As a result of this accessibility, Brugge became a
port of Zeebrugge. trading center for the Hanseatic League. Brugge reached
Those of you who watched the height of importance in the 15th century, where again
the 2008 crime film In Bruges starring Colin Farrell and we see Mother Nature imposing her will. It was at this
Brandan Gleesan will recall that the city’s well-preserved time that the Zein Estuary silted up, prohibiting access to
architecture practically transports you back to medieval times. the sea. When this occurred, the city began its decline as
In reality, the history of Brugge goes back much further. a trade center, but remained brilliant and powerful as the
The Roman Bridge, where the River Rei flows into the court of the dukes of Burgundy (known as the counts of
estuary, was mentioned in seventh century writings. The Flanders after 1384). It also became the artistic center of the
name given to the bridge was Municipium Brugene. The Flemish school until religious and political struggles of the
French call the city that developed in the area “Bruges” and 16th century completed its ruin. However, the same artistry
to the Flemish their beautiful city is “Brugge.” Since that first in tapestry is being demonstrated today as it did centuries
bridge, approximately 60 bridges span the river, estuary and ago. One must only behold the Flemish tapestries that line
many canals that have been dug over the ages. These man- the walls of the Sistine Chapel in Rome to truly appreciate
made canals provide waterway access through the city. the art form.
After Brugge was evangelized by St. Eloi, bishop of Noyon The Church of Our Lady
Tournai, the first counts of Flanders built their castles here in Photo by Wolfgang Staudt Travel on page 26

A panoramic shot from atop the Bruges belfry Photo by Nacho Castejón Martinez