Nadja Michael as Salome. There’s a lot of poetic licence used in the portrayal of Salome that simply isn’t evident in the historical and biblical texts. But it makes for great theatre. Salome the daughter of Herodias (formerly the wife of Philip the Tetrarch) who had left Philip for his brother Herod Antipas (which is what John the Baptist was making a fuss over, and in the end got him killed). There was one daughter from her marriage to Philip – Salome. Salome was invited to dance for her step father at court on his birthday. The dance is not described anywhere, and much modern interpretation is speculation. However, the fact that Herod promised on oath to to give Salome whatever she asked for because her dance was pleasing tells us that it was in the least alluring and sensual given his reaction.
Breathless
You were huddled as the music began,
and slowly you unfolded
with such grace,
we held our breath.
You reached upwards,
your body ripe.
You swirled, dipped and turned,
your eyes wild,
hair ablaze,
fabric unfurling.
The air was so thin,
we were breathless.
©Paul Cannon
Paul,
pvcann.com
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