Ballet & Fashion

On 3 November, the National Gallery of Victoria together with The Australian Ballet will open Ballet & Fashion, a free exhibition celebrating the creative collaboration between dance and design.

Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV, said, “We are thrilled to be working with The Australian Ballet to bring this exceptional exhibition to Melbourne audiences over summer.”

“Ballet & Fashion will excite fans of both the stage and the runway with many of fashion’s biggest labels and ballet’s most revered performances represented.”

The exhibition displays over 20 works from the past three decades by renowned international and Australian fashion designers including Giles Deacon, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Valentino, Rei Kawakubo, Christian Lacroix, Vanessa Leyonhjelm, Toni Maticevski, Richard Nylon, Easton Pearson, Ralph Rucci and Viktor&Rolf.

“Visitors will be rewarded with a rare opportunity to see up-close the intricate detailing usually reserved for designers, dancers and the backstage teams,” said Mr Ellwood.

Art and fashion have a long and dynamic history of association. Ballet & Fashion highlights the signature styles of leading fashion designers, the success of multidisciplinary collaboration and the challenges designers face when creating pieces that must withstand the rough and tumble of performance.

David McAllister, Artistic Director, The Australian Ballet, said, “Ballet & Fashion forms part of our celebrations to mark 50 wonderful years of The Australian Ballet. Ballet costumes really are works of art with their ornate designs and incredible craftsmanship so we’re delighted to be collaborating with the NGV on this extraordinary exhibition.”

Dance companies represented in Ballet & Fashion include The Australian Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Phillip Adams BalletLab, English National Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Sydney Dance Company and Vienna State Ballet. The exhibition also depicts its ballet costumes in motion through video footage from performances including The Australian Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet and Phillip Adams BalletLab’s Aviary: A Suite for the Bird.

Ballet & Fashion is part of NGV Summer, an exciting program of exhibitions and events at the NGV encouraging visitors to engage with and participate in great art over the warmer months. Visit ngv.vic.gov.au for more information.

To coincide with the opening of Ballet & Fashion the NGV has published a stunning collector’s book, available from the NGV Shop for RRP $14.95.

Ballet & Fashion is a collaboration between the National Gallery of Victoria and The Australian Ballet, with support from Exhibition Sponsor Vogue Australia.

Ballet & Fashion is on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road from 3 November 2012 to 19 May 2013. Open Wed–Mon, 10am–5pm. Free entry.