Dance Talks LIVE summer series
DANCE AND FASHION: CENTURIES OF INFLUENCE AND THE RISE OF THE BALLERINA
July 22-August 26
Sign up Mondays 7:30-8:30EST
On zoom
$150
Are you interested in learning about the fascinating interplay between ballet and fashion? Ballet and fashion have been influencing each other for centuries! From the birth of the dance form to today’s runways. Let’s explore the history and evolution of these two art forms and their cultural impact.
Through a 6 week live course we’ll take a look at the lives and works of the important costume designers including Karinska, Chanel and Napoleon (yes, the military conquerer’s sartorial philosophies are STILL in ballet studios all over the world) and we’ll learn about famous dancers from each era in costume design. We’ll study the various cultural movements and historical events that have shaped the development of ballet and fashion, from the rise of Romanticism in the 19th century to the emergence of modernism and postmodernism in the 20th century. Each week we’ll also take a look at videos of some of the ballets relevant to the era and see how the costumes, the technique and the beauty standards evolved through time.
Finally we’ll look at how costumes are designed and made today, and tutus through the centuries (did you know you can often tell which era a ballet is from based on the costume alone?) Finally at the modern influences of haute couture and ballet on each other through the designs of Dior, Valentino, Iris Van Herpin and more.
Register now for our 6-week Ballet and Fashion Live Interactive Course. Course includes 6 live interactive talks on Zoom ( replay will be made available). Includes the video and audio from each class and a PDF booklet to follow along with.
Chapter 1 and 2:
Tutus through time and Haute Couture.
Let’s look at the most famous ballets and what the costumes said about the times they were created in.
Did you know you can usually tell what era a ballet was made in based solely on the costume? Taking a look at the major ballets (and the associated dancers) from the romantic, classical, neoclassical and contemporary eras.
Haute Couture and Ballet costume construction have a tremendous amount in common. The pleating, the boning, the hand sewing. What’s the life of a modern day costume designer like? Did you know the average tutu requires many hours of hand labor and many yards of fabric?
Chapter 3 and 4:
Austerity and Modernity Napoleon to Chanel
Napoleon and the French revolution knocked down the male dancer and opened the door for the rise of the ballerina. The conquerer took us into austerity while Chanel, alongside the Ballets Russes, took us into modernity.
Chapter 5 and 6
Karinska and The Modern Collaborations
Barbara Karinska, responsible for the neo classical beauty that occupied so much of the 20th century. He works were the meeting points between the eras and into the future. Who were the designers who followed in her footsteps? Whose work has been on ballet’s stages? Many designer have undeniably had ballet’s influence in their houses and on their runways, Iris Van Herpin, Rodarte among many more.
$150
