Stay on Point(e) with Dior’s Online Ballet Classes
In tribute to the art of movement treasured by Monsieur Dior, the luxury Maison is now offering virtual ballet classes on its YouTube channel
Taught by leading dancers and choreographers from the Paris Opera Ballet and Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Dior’s virtual dance tutorials intend to “awaken senses lulled by lockdown.”
The series consists of three online masterclasses divided into two parts: a warm-up and a guided improvisation. The warm-up “…corresponds to what we call the bar for a classical ballet dancer” explains professional dancer and friend of the house, Sébastien Bertaud. Reassuring beginners that the foundation-level postures can be done in conjunction with the stability of a chair in lieu of studio equipment, the warm-up is followed by guided improvisation.
The fashion house’s longstanding relationship with the performing arts was originally conceived and fortified by Monsieur Dior himself. Manifested in both muse and masterpiece, Dior’s interest in the “hypnotic discipline” led to the creation of costumes for a number of performances throughout the course of his lifetime— most notably, the Roland Petit Ballet’s Treize Danses.
Ensuring the legacy of dance, and in particular ballet, lives on in the DNA of Dior Maria Grazia Chiuri, the Maison’s current creative director, frequently pays heed to both performers and performances alike.
Under her direction, the brand’s ethereal SS19 collection celebrated power and femininity in the form of pleated tulle skirts and gauzy nude dresses. Soon after, she went on to design costumes for the Nuit Blanche (2020) ballet at the Rome Opera House.
“Dance in all its forms and variations is a very important frame of reference for me,” says Grazia Chiuri. “It fascinates and inspires me, because it gives the body and its possibilities a central role.’
Click here to access the classes.
Lead image courtesy of Instagram/Dior
