Dior has posted virtual dance tutorials designed to “awaken senses lulled by lockdown.”
The ballet lessons and movement workshops are led by principal dancers and choreographers from Paris Opera Ballet and Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. The French fashion house urges those to“take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to feel and respond to the music, how to improvise and to perfect some key positions.”
Dior and ballet have a long history. Monsieur Dior treasured the “hypnotic discipline” and, in addition to finding inspiration for Dior designs within dance, costumed the Roland Petit ballet Treize Danses during his lifetime. Current creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri has continued this special relationship and, last year, designed the utopian costumes for the Nuit Blanche ballet at the Rome Opera House. The production went on to open the Dior spring/summer 2020 show in Shanghai.
Dior’s three new online masterclasses are divided into two parts, starting with a warm-up “that corresponds to what we call the bar for a classical ballet dancer”, explains professional dancer and friend of the house, Sébastien Bertaud. (Click ‘view transcript’ to see the full conversation and instructions). And then, a second section of guided improvisation, “meaning we’ll give you a few suggestions to really make the most of this time.” Bertaud assures tentative movers that the foundation-level postures can be finessed by holding onto a chair or table in lieu of classic studio equipment.
Find the ballet workshops on Dior’s Youtube page HERE.
