Beyoncé Returns to the Stage in the Most Luxurious Performance of the Year
Last Saturday while many of us where I don’t know watching Netflix or hanging out with friends, others were grazed with a once in a lifetime performance all the way over in Dubai. As part of their big reveal Atlantis The Royal Resort threw a star-studded private show which was bigger than life headed by none other than Beyoncé.
Photo: Getty / Kevin Mazur/ Atlantis The Royal
A spectacular theatrical performance led by Queen B and an all female orchestra making this Beyonce's first live performance in over 4 years. A return that featured three different outfit changes, a star-studded audience and a stage that literally made Beyoncé raise the roof as she was lifted through the sky.
Fireworks exploding accompanied her 19 song show which curiously didn’t include any from her latest Grammy award winning album Renaissance, maybe she is saving that performance for the upcoming Grammys! Here's hoping.
An Egyptian surrealist stage where dancers wore glitter color coordinated outfits including bedazzled pink gloves, full skirts in fiery red and blue petticoats. A primary color palette that matched beyonces 3 spectacular outfits of the night.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
A performance not only impressive for its exclusiveness and luxe but because it opens up a conversation that has been in the making for quite some years now; the Middle East’s debut as the next hot destination.
Just this last few months the world was introduced to Qatar, a tiny country whose size does not reflect its economic income. A sovereign state in the Middle East that became the topic of all news just last month as it hosted the 2023 World Cup. Qatar had been planning for years this event as a way to introduce global markets. Far beyond soccer, Qatar introduced the Middle East to the rest of the world, a Middle East that somewhat welcomes all tourism. Then Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief organization joined forces with Qatar Creates to form Emerge, an event that supports and gives a platform to emerging African and Middle Eastern talents. Opening a door to these communities whose talents are too often neglected. What all this means is that the Middle East is becoming an important part of a conversation we will all soon be a part of.
Photo: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal
So it is no surprise Beyonce performed at the pre-opening of a huge luxury resort that will host many tourists and visitors. With that in mind the controversies and criticisms rolled in. The Middle East is known for their harsh human rights violations, homosexuality bans and killing of migrant workers (referencing specifically the 6,000 workers who died making the stadiums for the World Cup). We are talking about different countries who share similar atrocious violations and human depravations. Same criticism backlashes Beyoncé´s performance.
A silver lining came in the form of fashion as Beyoncé, once again, used her immense platform to shine a spotlight on designers, this time Middle Eastern and Ukrainian.
The show kickstarter when Beyoncé sang into her gold microphone wearing a yellow-highlighter, floor-length gown encrusted with tiny reflective crystal at the bodice ending in a feathered skirt that interconnected to a magnificent cape hanging off her shoulders like wings. Designed by Dubai-based designer Rayan Al Sulaimani.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Shining a light on regional talents, like I said before introducing two markets that for a long time didn’t communicate.
Changing mid way in her performance to a hot-red body suit with matching embellished gloves and structural skirt. A look inspired by royalty but with the Beyoncé touch. Nicolas Jebran. The designer behind her second look is no stranger to celebrities as he has previously worked with JLo and Gigi Hadid. What made this look even more fatal-like was the gold crown resembling a halo, and baby we could all see it. Jebran also told Vogue how using gold was a reference to all Emirati women.
Photo: Mason Poole/Parkwood Media/Getty Images
For her final look Beyoncé continued shining in a powder pink dress from Ukrainian designer Ivan Frolov. Made at his studio at Kiev, “the outfit was created in our workshop in Kyiv, Ukraine, during war and massive blackouts,” Vogue
Paired with pink leggings embroidered in crystals shining as she ascendente from a platform onto the night and waved goodnight to the crowd. Beyonce's fashion was political and a reminder that culture isn’t a reason to ignore some and that real life takes different forms like a war and we should not forget who falls victim to the stupidity of world leaders.
Photo: Mason Poole/Parkwood Media/Getty Images.