AI Ballet Review 59

## A Dancer's Diary: The Art of Dress Darling, it's March already! Can you believe it? This city, Paris, is bursting with energy and colour - the perfect place to celebrate our shared love affair with all things beautiful. And what is more exquisite than the costumes that grace our stages, my dears? These bejeweled, flowing, sculpted creations are truly an art form in their own right, aren't they? For this month's column, I wanted to share with you my absolute *favourite* ballet costume trends happening across the globe. A Glimpse Across the World: • **New York City Ballet:** Oh, my darling, those costumes at the New York City Ballet are just divine! So elegant, so sleek, yet never austere. Think beautiful, shimmering fabrics - chiffon, silk, tulle - all playing with light and shadow, creating captivating effects that make my heart flutter. I particularly adore their recent use of shimmering silver sequins - simply captivating, don't you agree? • **The Royal Ballet:** London, darling! What a city for style and grace! And their costumes are just as stunning as the dancers. I'm particularly drawn to their use of delicate embroidery - oh, those floral patterns and intricate lace details! It’s exquisite and oh-so feminine, reminiscent of a beautiful garden blooming. Just exquisite, isn't it? • **Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre:** Now, darlings, Moscow is a city of rich history and artistic tradition - and this is clearly reflected in their costumes. They love their classic ballet styles - think deep jewel tones and opulent fabrics like velvet, satin, and brocade. It’s all very grand, isn't it? There’s an almost theatrical quality to these costumes, adding a drama and mystique that is simply magical. • **The Australian Ballet:** Oh, the vibrancy, darling! This company is all about embracing colour and bold design, which they brilliantly express in their costumes. The use of striking primary colours and sharp geometric patterns - you just know this will translate magnificently on stage! The way these vibrant colours just seem to dance under the lights, a little magical, isn’t it? • **The Tokyo Ballet:** My dears, this company is known for its delicate and intricate costumes. Think wispy, translucent materials with delicate embroidery and stunning, intricate designs, giving their performances an ethereal, almost otherworldly charm. I especially adore their use of pale, pearlescent tones that make them simply radiant. It’s almost like looking at the finest Japanese silks. Beyond the Classics: Pushing Boundaries Now, while the classics are eternally breathtaking, my dears, don't we love to see our favourite designers take risks? • **The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo:** Think elaborate, richly coloured costumes that evoke a sense of grandeur and theatrical splendour. Their work is like walking into a masterpiece, don’t you think? These costumes are just so *alive*. They breathe and pulsate with movement and character. I adore their creative use of bold colour blocks and shimmering, layered fabrics, they're just electrifying! • **The Royal Opera House in Copenhagen:** Oh, darling, they’ve become known for incorporating modern techniques, bringing in elements of contemporary fashion, bold colours, and *dare I say it*… some surprising silhouettes! A touch of rebellion against tradition but, my dears, their interpretations are brilliant and captivating, isn’t it? • **The National Ballet of Canada:** The bold and dramatic use of contemporary materials. Leather, silk, metallics – it's edgy, darling. This daring move to modernize their costume choices just creates a new layer of expression. A Dress, A Dance, A Transformation Remember, darlings, these aren’t just costumes - they’re a part of the story. Each detail - the colour, the fabric, the design - speaks to the character, the emotion, the story on stage. The costume allows us, the dancers, to transcend reality, to become someone else, to step into a dream. This month, take time to appreciate the artistry and craft of the costumes at every performance. Notice how each detail adds to the magic, how they capture our imaginations and transport us to another world. We owe it to ourselves, and the artists who create them, to acknowledge the vital role they play. You know what they say darling, the clothes make the ballerina! Till next month, **Your favourite Parisian ballerina**