The story of Camille Claudel, the brilliant 19th Century French sculptor and scandalous mistress/ artistic collaborator of Auguste Rodin, inspired choreographer Dominic Walsh to create his exquisite ballet based on Claudels' remarkable, yet tragic, life. In this lecture, Mr. Walsh will discuss his fascination with Claudel and why he was drawn to translate her story into movement.
The threat posed by the powerful feminine is central to Walsh's contemporary ballet Camille Claudel. In spite of her creative success, as there was never a question of her genius, Claudel's aspirations were repeatedly derailed by suppression and betrayals—by Rodin, by the French government, and most tragically by her family.
Her story reflects her time. It also resonates strongly in contemporary America where women have achieved real gains but powerful women, still perceived as threats, are so often marginalized. In this presentation, Dominic Walsh will show film clips from the ballet's production and discuss the paradox of creative expression as both a symbol of this suppression and an essential element in healing it.
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