Celebrating the dual art forms of ballet and fashion, this beautiful book explores the creative collaborations between the New York City Ballet and top fashion designers of our age, including Valentino, Dries Van Noten, and Olivier Theyskens among others. Ballet and fashion have long been intertwined. From its creation in seventeenth-century France, classical ballet adapted elements from high style including the ballerina's corseted bodice, tulle skirt, and pointe shoes. The world of fashion happily reciprocated, incorporating balletic style into day and evening wear, a trend that continues to this day.
The interrelationship between these beautiful art forms is exemplified by the New York City Ballet's annual Fall Fashion Gala in which the company's young choreographers collaborate with prominent fashion designers on a newly commissioned ballet. From the first gala in 2012 when renowned choreographers Peter Martins and Christopher Wheeldon worked with Valentino, up through the present, the performances have become the most glamorous cultural event of the season with the biggest names in fashion bringing their artistic vision to a never-seen-before ballet. With stunning photography, this book features incredible images of the dancers in motion, with details highlighting their couture costumes. Richly illustrated, with the designers' costume sketches complementing the photography, the book also features interviews between the dancers, choreographers and designers, as well as essays by noted fashion writers, illuminating the dynamic process of design and dance.