Charleston Ballet's 'Rite' magnificent

Melissa Weber commanded the stage as The Matriarch in Charleston Ballet Theatre's "Rite of Spring" as she exuded an earthy, vigorous presence, as the leader of a primitive tribe of females. Danced to Igor Stravinsky's music, the performance was part of the Charleston Ballet Theatre's 20th anniversary celebration as a professional company held Saturday at the Sottile Theater.

Although "Rite of Spring," (Le Sacre du Printemps), with book by Stravinsky and Nicholas Roerich, was first performed in 1913 by the Ballets Russes in Paris, CBT's resident choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr used her genius to put her own spin on the famous work. The ballet's title refers to a primitive custom of selecting a maiden, The Chosen One, to sacrifice as a welcome to Spring. But Bahr's version, showing a tribe of women that is invaded by men, has The Chosen One doing the killing.

The intensity of the lust and anger-filled tableau, set in a futuristic-looking steel cage-like structure, was palpable as dancers rose from dirt mounds and began executing angular movements. Among the excellent dancers, Jessica Roan as The Chosen One and Alexander Collen as The First Man were standouts.

Saturday's program opened with "Poetry With a Splash of Blood," set by Bahr in 1987 to the music of Philip Glass. It glowed with acrobatic choreography and black costumes accented with red gloves, designed by Don Cantwell. However, Bahr's "Wings" (1996), seemed terribly repetitive, but overall the program was a magnificent celebration.

The dance concert will be repeated at 3 p.m. today at Sottile Theater. Tickets available at the door.