‘Quartet at the Ballet’ analysis
I’ve watched the Anastasia boot many times and I’ve found an interesting symbolism of the dance connected with the whole story.
*This is just my outlook. I don’t know if this is accurate, but I think it makes sense quite well.*
The ballerina who comes in the first represents Anya, alone at the beginning of the story, trying to find her place, her past and her future. (Then Anya sings her part of the song)
The guy who comes after her symbolizes Dmitry, the one who Anya meets first on her journey (to the past).
He helps her findind her way and he is her support. (And Dmitry sings his part)
The three ballerinas represent the Dowager Empress and her striving to find her granddaughter. I can’t figure out why there are three, perhaps you have an idea. (And of course she sings her part)
The masked man would be Gleb (funny that here Gleb is Ramin, who is also the Phantom, the most known masked man in musical theatre), another important person in Anya’s journey. The cape and the mask could symbolize that Gleb has something to hide and his conflict and struggle between him as Gleb the comisioner and Gleb the human. He wants to be the hero of his country, but he doesn’t want to do what this implies. (Here Gleb sings his part)
When Dmitry and Gleb sing together, the ballerina is ‘caught’ between the two men like Anya is between Dmitry and Gleb. Her life depends on their moves and choices.
Here all four, Anya, Dmitry, Gleb and the Dowager Empress sing and the dancers are all together too, around the first ballerina showing that the whole story is Anya’s and for Anya. The ballerina is above sustained by the two man, emphasizing Dmitry and Gleb’s importance for Anya and that her life is in their hands.
‘Find a way, Anastasia!’ has the first ballerina in the center if the stage, swirling, showing Anya’s confusion and struggle to find her way.
The final pose anticipates the ending of the play. The three ballerinas are on the left side of the scene like the Dowager Empress at the end, the masked man is on the right, like Gleb, and the pair are in center like Anya and Dmitry. Also it reveals an obvious fact, that the last two end up together.
Thank you if you read till the end! Did you think about these or did you find other facts? Let me know.
areudirty
titsay
