Ballets 6

## A Tragedy of Fashion, a Ballet of Contradictions: I’ve always felt a profound connection to ballet. Perhaps it’s the stories whispered in graceful gestures, or the way a single turn can encapsulate a lifetime of emotions. This week, I was fortunate enough to see a revival of Eugene Aynsley Goossens’ 1926 ballet, *A Tragedy of Fashion*. It was a truly curious affair, a paradoxical masterpiece, where the beauty of movement clashed with the macabre, leaving me both captivated and troubled. **A Ballet of Exquisite Contrasts** From the very first note, Goossens’ music was a whirlwind of emotions. The score itself is a marvel, veering wildly from the mournful strains of the opening cello to a full-blown, decadent waltz that had the orchestra soaring. This was music that mirrored the themes of the ballet, playing with contrasts that were as striking as the dancers themselves. * The story of *A Tragedy of Fashion* revolves around a dressmaker, Beatrice, and her obsession with creating the ultimate fashion creation. The costumes, designed by the iconic [Insert Costume Designer Name, if known], were an elaborate testament to this obsession. We see Beatrice in an array of creations, from demure and understated to overtly dramatic and over-the-top. Each dress, a story unto itself, and every detail – the feathers, the beads, the fabric itself – spoke to Beatrice’s obsession, ultimately turning her into a tragic heroine. * The ballet showcased a range of different dance styles. There was the formal grace of the traditional pas de deux, the thrilling energy of the ensemble work, and even some delightful moments of playful character work. The choreographer (Again, [Insert Choreographer Name, if known]) clearly understood the strengths of the individual dancers and weaved their abilities together beautifully. There were moments of raw power, where a single dancer embodied the frustration of Beatrice’s unfulfilled desires, and others where the ensemble danced in harmony, portraying the seductive allure of the Parisian fashion scene. * There were elements of comedic absurdity that were unexpected yet undeniably captivating. For instance, in one sequence, a group of men dressed in top hats and frock coats (the supposed arbiters of taste!) attempted to decipher the essence of beauty. They moved clumsily, their efforts as futile as trying to trap a butterfly. This scene was both amusing and tragically true. Who, in their right mind, can definitively state what beauty is? * The central dancer, who played Beatrice, possessed an effortless grace. Every movement felt intentional, and her ability to portray a character consumed by ambition was nothing short of brilliant. I could feel the desperation in her every step, the burning desire to create a garment that would conquer the world of fashion. In a final act, her pursuit became a violent struggle with her own self. The music shifted into a frantic, dissonant melody. She whirled and spun, becoming consumed by the very dress she had created. **More Than Just Fashion: A Universal Struggle** There was something undeniably poignant about *A Tragedy of Fashion*. It transcended the trappings of the fashion world to become a powerful commentary on the human struggle for recognition, the allure of ambition, and the tragedy of our unfulfilled desires. * **Ambition** - Beatrice’s yearning for greatness, her need to be seen and appreciated, echoed through the very fabric of the ballet. This drive to succeed, this unwavering ambition, was the driving force behind her creation. But it ultimately consumed her, turning her into a hollow shell, lost in her own self-imposed narrative of triumph. * **Tragedy** - The ballet was imbued with a melancholy undercurrent, a sense that happiness, despite all of Beatrice’s efforts, remained eternally elusive. In her desperate pursuit of the perfect garment, she found nothing but a devastating emptiness. * **Social Commentary** - This ballet felt eerily contemporary. Goossens’ creation offered a pointed critique of the fashion world of the 1920s. It was a world obsessed with appearances, with trends that shifted like sands on a desert beach. While we’re perhaps less bound by strict social constraints today, the pressure to fit in, to conform to societal ideals, sadly remains a constant. **An Enigma** The ballet left me with a mix of feelings. There was an undeniable beauty to it, a profound human story in every turn and twist of the dancers’ bodies. But it also had this strange undercurrent of unease, a reminder that often, the pursuit of fame and fortune can have devastating consequences. *A Tragedy of Fashion* was a reminder that true beauty often lies not in outward appearances but in the quiet corners of our souls, where vulnerability and honesty reside. And that, perhaps, is what makes it such a unique and memorable ballet. It invites us to look beyond the surface and question the motives of our desires, while reminding us that sometimes the greatest beauty lies in our deepest flaws. This ballet isn't just about fashion; it's a reminder of the complex dance between desire, ambition and ultimate despair that lives in us all.