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Malta's Christabelle steps out of the box on the Eurovision stage

02 May 2018 at 13:20 CEST
Malta rehearsal Andres Putting
The first rehearsal of the Maltese Eurovision entry ‘Taboo’ involves a modern dancer, gripping lights and a glowing, anatomical heart. Christabelle is breaking the taboo on stage!

Christabelle was born in Mġarr, Malta, in 1992, and has been performing on stage since she was just three years old. Earlier this year, Christabelle won the Maltese national selection for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Taboo. Her entry started a nation-wide discussion about mental health in Malta.

READ MORE: Christabelle's participant profile.

The rehearsal performance starts with an open box-like structure with screens projecting an image of a black panther. The cameras zoom in on Christabelle and we get a dark vibe as she begins the song.

Red and blue lights get brighter as the song goes on, and, combined with laser beams, the performance turns from sombre to powerful. After the first chorus, Christabelle steps out of the box, and we see she her place in the box replaced by a modern dancer. The dancer is Anthea, who represented Malta in 2015 Eurovision Young Dancers. 

Taboo is a personal song co-written by Christabelle, alongside with Johnny Sanchez, Muxu and Thomas G:Son. Thomas G:Son is well known for writing Loreen’s 2012 Eurovision-winning song. Muxu is the songwriter behind Malta's two victories at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, and Malta’s 2015 Eurovision entry Warrior performed by Amber. Johnny Sanchez is a Swedish music producer and songwriter who has been writing songs for the Eurovision Song Contest for countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Ireland.

Christabelle: "The stage looks insane!"

Eurovision.tv caught up with Christabelle after her first rehearsal: "There are some things we need to change, but I'm really positive about it. The stage looks insane and I felt great up there."

Christabelle also told us more about the concept of her performance: "The LED screens on the box show images that are related to breaking the taboo of mental illness. Anthea, my dancer, represents the taboo I want to break."

Christabelle will return to the rehearsal stage on Saturday, 5th of May for her second run-through. Malta competes in the second Semi-Final on Thursday, 10th of May. 

What do you think about Christabelle's first rehearsal? Will Malta make it to the Grand Final? Tell us what you think in the comments!