Knowing how ballet companies cannibalize their costumes for new productions and how hard dancers are on them, it's amazing that any of these costumes are left. I've seen many photo's of their productions but getting to see one of their actual costumes is such a treat.
Shockingly modern, even for a Ballet Russes costume. If you told me it was recent Comme des Garcons or Junya Watanabe I would have believed it. It's funny how our idea of "avant garde" hasn't really changed much in over 100 years.
I’ve been studying the history of ballet, its lore and the artifacts associated with it my whole adult life. That was possibly the most comprehensive and informed commentary I have ever heard of a any costume from the Ballets Russes. I’m disappointed that she never addressed the peculiar asymmetry of the red stars and the apparent edit that was made to that detail. It had my brain itching the whole time.
@@vamuseum Thank you! I thoroughly enjoy your channel...subjects,content and presenters...visually and audibly stimulating!I eagerly await each new episode.Thank you!🙂
If there was ever a Ballet Russe exhibit I think I might have to fly to London to see it! I've always been fascinated by them. I saw a very memorable show of Chagall's costumes for ballet here in Los Angeles. It was quite the treat.
@@jztouch I would have to join you on that trip!😃 And I love Chagall too! There is something so childlike,yet fantastical about Chagall..and the Ballet Russe costumes! A time never to come again.
Love seeing the curators get so excited about the collections! The overlap between so many different arts contributing to the creation of this costume is really astounding. I love how the red applique triangles below the waist echo the longer trouser leg while also evoking tassels or other very heavy ornamental garb.
Absolutely wonderful, and the witchiest thing I've seen in a long time! I was nearly drooling for someone to come and put it on, to see what it looks like... Such a great share! Thanks V&A!
An excellent piece. It should be noted, though, that the photo of Karsavina identified as "The Firebird 1910 - 1920" is misleading. It is the Tchaikovsky/Petipa Bluebird pas de deux that Karsavina danced with Nijinsky in 1909 as part of Le Festin and renamed, confusingly, L'Oiseau de feu. Photo by Auguste Bert, 1909.
Absolutely beautiful and devine I can't thank you enough for your explanation and passion in sharing such a wonderful story. Of our past influences, when Art mimics Art or design influences everything. Thank you very much. 🎉
Jane Pritchard!!!!! Ive had the great privilege of meeting Jane many times when i worked at English National Ballet. There isnt much that Jane doesnt know about ballet - amazing woman!
Interesting video 🌻 Loved the whole explanation of a dress so abstract to me ✨ Loved the photos shred of Karsavina 🌸 It is interesting how we come to Earth to perform through our own uniqueness and afterwards we leave, the show is over 🤔 Between one thing and another there are the lessons, the preparation 🌟
@@nativevirginian8344 They were never performed in Russia. Amazing to think now, they suspended Nijinsky. It's only now in the last couple of decades Russia has begun to celebrate the Ballet Russe. Too preoccupied with Classical Ballet. But now that has changed and they are putting on the finest reconstructions of the Ballet Russe ballets.
I kept thinking it looked simultaneously weird and very much of its time, and then I realised it rather reminded me of things by Wiener Werkstätte, only wilder. So yes, weird as well as very much of its time... 😅
It reminds me of special costum I had made by punk rock lady called "animal"she had pink haired and made a cock roach t shirt which was famous as she sprayed painted these water bugs and fastenen then on the shirt any way she gave my mother an out fit for me to ware ...at the "mud club"in New York ....were my mom was performing. . So I was about 12...and this outfit was amazing sheer ish white ish spangle material ...with material marker spinner web ...all over it so I was a spider ....and when I danced on the stage was pretty spectacular
Sad to read the Russophobic comment. It’s a fascinating survival. Would rather the mannequin were pink or skin colour so we get the stage effect. Loved the Beardsley references
You seem misinformed. The Ballet Russes toured Australia. More than once!!. They had a love affair with our country and we loved them, the story goes whenever the company left a city to move onto the next the citizens would go down to the train station and throw flowers after their carriage as they left! It is actually due to them touring that Australia gained it's very first Ballet company when the first world war broke out while they were here and as I mentioned so many of the dancers loved Australia so much and it was so dangerous in Europe that a couple stayed and formed their own company! I can't remember the exact name, Bogodovs? They weren't actually Russian. It was something very similar. I will update this when I recall, but it was a young husband and wife who wanted to live happily far from the war.. I'm very happy that I could pass on this information. I was actually quite shocked when you didn't mention that they came here when it was such a very great and difficult journey for them! Now you can update your information 😊
i couldn’t call it for certain, but it’s plausible that if the dance of seven veils were to be performed in this piece (and presumably with the addition of the lost cape + overlayers), parts of the stitching may be so visible and roughshod because they’re intended to tear away during performance? if that happened multiple times for multiple performances, and the repair each time is merely to facilitate another removal sequence, i could see those repairs being done equally quickly, too. …of course, the costumer may simply have been overworked.
As someone who's done a lot of theatrical costuming and ballet, the costume doesn't fit the mannequin, but that's only part of the issue with this piece. The stitching is huge and both badly sewn and placed, 90% of the details will be lost by the first row of the audience. Most ballet costumes are lost to time, reworking for another ballet, rotted from sweat/make-up or blood. This piece is still here, that tells me it wasn't used much.
Wow that is really intriguingly crappy construction! I always think of vintage items being impeccably over-engineered but erm, not in this case. That shit was thrown together in a few hours from scraps and I almost love that about it.
Knowing how ballet companies cannibalize their costumes for new productions and how hard dancers are on them, it's amazing that any of these costumes are left. I've seen many photo's of their productions but getting to see one of their actual costumes is such a treat.
Shockingly modern, even for a Ballet Russes costume. If you told me it was recent Comme des Garcons or Junya Watanabe I would have believed it. It's funny how our idea of "avant garde" hasn't really changed much in over 100 years.
It looks very 70s to me, I like that about it.
precisely what i thought
Fantastic clip and a splendid presenter, thank you.
I’ve been studying the history of ballet, its lore and the artifacts associated with it my whole adult life. That was possibly the most comprehensive and informed commentary I have ever heard of a any costume from the Ballets Russes.
I’m disappointed that she never addressed the peculiar asymmetry of the red stars and the apparent edit that was made to that detail. It had my brain itching the whole time.
You said the quiet part out loud!! MY STARS 🤩😅!!!
Wonderful segment! Please show us more costumes from your Ballet Russe collection!
You can see more on our website, here! www.vam.ac.uk/collections/diaghilev-and-the-ballet-russes
@@vamuseum Thank you! I thoroughly enjoy your channel...subjects,content and presenters...visually and audibly stimulating!I eagerly await each new episode.Thank you!🙂
If there was ever a Ballet Russe exhibit I think I might have to fly to London to see it! I've always been fascinated by them. I saw a very memorable show of Chagall's costumes for ballet here in Los Angeles. It was quite the treat.
@@jztouch I would have to join you on that trip!😃 And I love Chagall too! There is something so childlike,yet fantastical about Chagall..and the Ballet Russe costumes! A time never to come again.
So interesting ! And this lady ..amazing presentation and voice ❤
So fun to see pictures of Karsavina I had never seen before! Thank you for this wonderful video!
Love seeing the curators get so excited about the collections! The overlap between so many different arts contributing to the creation of this costume is really astounding. I love how the red applique triangles below the waist echo the longer trouser leg while also evoking tassels or other very heavy ornamental garb.
That was wonderful thank you ... I'm so pleased the V and A was able to acquire it ... I still dream that the missing cape will turn up some day
The story behind the costume is as fascinating as the costume itself. Thank you for posting this!
Fantastic presenter and presentation. Thank you!
I love this intriguing chapter of ballet history! What a fascinating and beautiful costume.
This is fascinating and that costume is beautiful and different. I had no idea that painters were involved with ballet productions.
I love these clips. I wish you would make a weekly program. There is some much fascinating that we never will see!
Thank you so much Jane, that was fascinating.
fascinating - the design still looks innovative
Absolutely wonderful, and the witchiest thing I've seen in a long time! I was nearly drooling for someone to come and put it on, to see what it looks like... Such a great share! Thanks V&A!
An excellent piece. It should be noted, though, that the photo of Karsavina identified as "The Firebird 1910 - 1920" is misleading. It is the Tchaikovsky/Petipa Bluebird pas de deux that Karsavina danced with Nijinsky in 1909 as part of Le Festin and renamed, confusingly, L'Oiseau de feu. Photo by Auguste Bert, 1909.
Ballet Russes has been a major influence in fashion and music.
It has the appearance of veils with those asymmetrical lines. Beautiful presentation of a fascinating subject.
Absolutely beautiful and devine I can't thank you enough for your explanation and passion in sharing such a wonderful story. Of our past influences, when Art mimics Art or design influences everything. Thank you very much. 🎉
Ms Pritchard's comments were so fascinating and knowing!
Jane Pritchard!!!!! Ive had the great privilege of meeting Jane many times when i worked at English National Ballet. There isnt much that Jane doesnt know about ballet - amazing woman!
Excellent 🎉!
Wonderful piece!
Interesting video 🌻 Loved the whole explanation of a dress so abstract to me ✨ Loved the photos shred of Karsavina 🌸 It is interesting how we come to Earth to perform through our own uniqueness and afterwards we leave, the show is over 🤔 Between one thing and another there are the lessons, the preparation 🌟
Wonderfully presented
1:48 "Tamara Kasarvala"- isn't it pronounced Karsavina?
How did the Museum acquire the costume?
If it had not been for Diaghilev and Ballet Russes ballet in the West would have died a miserable death. The Russians saved ballet.
I am assuming that is why the costume is in the UK and not Russia. I hope the cape is discovered in Russia one day!
@@nativevirginian8344 They were never performed in Russia. Amazing to think now, they suspended Nijinsky. It's only now in the last couple of decades Russia has begun to celebrate the Ballet Russe. Too preoccupied with Classical Ballet. But now that has changed and they are putting on the finest reconstructions of the Ballet Russe ballets.
Wow, absolutely amazing!
I would absolutely wear this magnificent costume to a cocktail party! Stunning.😁
You would have to be inebriated to wear that.
@@tessdurberville711 🤣love your comment! So witty.💃
Amazing video!
Absolutely inspiring!!
Well done👏
I saw Nikinskys Spectre de la Rose costume in New York and I simply could have died to have seen a costume he wore.
Damn, that was entertaining as hell
I'm very interested in this lady's silver necklace too.
I'd love a bathing suit inspired by this.
Supercool!
I wonder if this has been redone?
I see an African motif in this costume with the color and shapes.
Beardsley did those illustrations in 1894 not 1907. He died in 1898.
I kept thinking it looked simultaneously weird and very much of its time, and then I realised it rather reminded me of things by Wiener Werkstätte, only wilder. So yes, weird as well as very much of its time... 😅
More!
It reminds me of special costum I had made by punk rock lady called "animal"she had pink haired and made a cock roach t shirt which was famous as she sprayed painted these water bugs and fastenen then on the shirt any way she gave my mother an out fit for me to ware ...at the "mud club"in New York ....were my mom was performing. . So I was about 12...and this outfit was amazing sheer ish white ish spangle material ...with material marker spinner web ...all over it so I was a spider ....and when I danced on the stage was pretty spectacular
Sad to read the Russophobic comment. It’s a fascinating survival. Would rather the mannequin were pink or skin colour so we get the stage effect. Loved the Beardsley references
😍😍😍😍😍
was revealing the breast as risque as all that? hadn't isadora duncan actually exposed herself on the russian stage?
You seem misinformed. The Ballet Russes toured Australia. More than once!!. They had a love affair with our country and we loved them, the story goes whenever the company left a city to move onto the next the citizens would go down to the train station and throw flowers after their carriage as they left!
It is actually due to them touring that Australia gained it's very first Ballet company when the first world war broke out while they were here and as I mentioned so many of the dancers loved Australia so much and it was so dangerous in Europe that a couple stayed and formed their own company! I can't remember the exact name, Bogodovs? They weren't actually Russian. It was something very similar. I will update this when I recall, but it was a young husband and wife who wanted to live happily far from the war..
I'm very happy that I could pass on this information. I was actually quite shocked when you didn't mention that they came here when it was such a very great and difficult journey for them! Now you can update your information 😊
Is there an explanation as to why the workmanship is so poor?
i couldn’t call it for certain, but it’s plausible that if the dance of seven veils were to be performed in this piece (and presumably with the addition of the lost cape + overlayers), parts of the stitching may be so visible and roughshod because they’re intended to tear away during performance? if that happened multiple times for multiple performances, and the repair each time is merely to facilitate another removal sequence, i could see those repairs being done equally quickly, too. …of course, the costumer may simply have been overworked.
Regardless of the age & pedigree of this costume - it is ugly - JMO.
Original pasties
Looks like nothing that would be in .. Salome...to me it makes NO sense..... interesting but.......😊
It would look that way to someone culturally vacant yes.
I wouldnt say that, but I would like to see it (or a recreation) on a performer instead of mangled by the years on a mannequin
@@Talentedtadpole Does it make you feel important to be so condescending?
@@katwil89 No. Vacant ignorant people with loud opinions on things they neither understand or appreciate are destructive and dull. Do better.
As someone who's done a lot of theatrical costuming and ballet, the costume doesn't fit the mannequin, but that's only part of the issue with this piece. The stitching is huge and both badly sewn and placed, 90% of the details will be lost by the first row of the audience. Most ballet costumes are lost to time, reworking for another ballet, rotted from sweat/make-up or blood. This piece is still here, that tells me it wasn't used much.
Wow that is really intriguingly crappy construction! I always think of vintage items being impeccably over-engineered but erm, not in this case. That shit was thrown together in a few hours from scraps and I almost love that about it.
This costume looks like a dog’s dinner. Though it may be intricately constructed, it’s hideous.
And a another sort of nun...with "art"memorabilia
Thanks a lot!🩰
🙏🥰💐🪷
Magnificent work
Tiny feet bespoken shoes
Salome Beardsley
#haiku #beardsley #salome
And a another sort of nun...with "art"memorabilia