Ballet Russes: The Art of Costume

Overview

Regarded by many as the greatest ballet company of the early 20th Century, the Ballets Russes was directed by controversial genius Sergei Diaghilev who challenged and titillated audiences with his innovative productions between 1909 and 1939. Diaghilev literally wowed audiences with his envelop-pushing parade of composers, choreographers, dancers, set and costume designers by challenging the artistic and sometimes even moral sensibilities of the day. Let's just say one premier performance literally ended in a riot. Cool. The extravagant costumes donned by the dancers were a large part of what made these productions so unforgettable, and no small wonder when the likes of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse took turns at the costume-design helm.

Fast-forward to present time and as we celebrate the centenary of this renegade dance company the National Gallery of Australia is exhibiting 140 costumes and accessories from 34 productions, many of which haven't been seen by human eyes since they exploded onto the stages of Europe worn by some of the most famous dancers in the history of dance. You don't need to know anything about ballet to appreciate the magic in these wearable pieces of art and the photographs, films, music and drawings that round out this intriguing exhibition so go and soak up the controversy and the history at the National Gallery.