I’m gutted that I missed out on Sadler’s Wells’ production of In the Spirit of Diaghilev, where Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes is paid tribute to by four choreographers. I’m also patiently waiting for the Ballets Russes exhibition to come to the Victoria & Albert museum. Seeing as the centenary of the first performance by Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes at the Théâtre du Châtalet in Paris is in 2009, the exhibition slated to open in 2010 seems far away. Thanks to an article from work, I got to at least relive some part of the performances that took place at the Sadler’s Wells, and coming across these images is a consolation.
They actually reveal an interesting collaboration. These shots, photographed by Diego Franssens of the dancers from Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun (a re-interpretation of The Afternoon of a Faun originally choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky and scored by Claude Débussy), showcase the costumes that Hussein Chalayan has created for the production. I can’t be 100% sure, but the fabric looks very similar to that acetate foam stuff that gave the ‘concrete’ effect to his ‘Earthbound’ F/W 09 collection, except the texture looks thinner. I love the twists and sense of fluidity that has been injected into these dancers’ costumes that is like a softening of his ‘concrete’ pieces… like a lump of Fimo getting softer and more pliable, and then being moulded into a Georgia O’Keefe-esque flower.
Article excerpted from stylebubble.co.uk
