Part of what makes the ballet so compelling is its obvious juxtaposition: the dancers, elegant and effortless beyond belief, are leaping and turning across the stage in an incredible display of strength and discipline. Last night, cult clothing line Reformation gathered a selection of dancers, actors, activists, and more to watch the New York City Ballet rehearse a section of George Balanchine’s Serenade. Five dancers skipped onto the stage of the David Koch Theater wearing Reformation’s latest drop, a collection made in collaboration with the storied ballet company.
Wendy Whelan, the associate artistic director, watched over the women as they practiced their steps, halting the live pianist when she had a note to add about the tilt of their heads or timing of their arms. The ballerinas were set to debut the piece the following night, after one more day-long practice session. When Whelan prompted the audience for any burning questions, actor Elizabeth Gillies raised her hand, asking how long the dancers typically had to rehearse each piece. “Sometimes days,” answered Whelan. Gillies, clearly startled, shot out, “Days?!”
Whelan, who regards herself as lucky to have had some 30 years on the stage, characterized the ballet as a short and demanding, but ultimately fulfilling, career choice. It was a fitting backdrop for Reformation’s desire to craft a collection for the woman on the go, someone who needed to be able to evolve in their garments. Designers visited the ballet to garner inspiration and, as could be seen last night, had the dancers put the clothes’ abilities to the ultimate test.
Following the performance, guests—including Ivy Getty, Lauren Cohan, Veronica Webb, Chloe Wise, Kimberly Drew, Kim Shui, Isolde Brielmaier, and Batsheva Hay—were invited to mingle with the company over cocktails, or to grab jewelry from Catbird and a live portrait from Blair Breitenstein. Around the room, dancers and attendees alike were dressed in Reformation’s ballet collection, featuring flats, leg warmers, gowns, warm-ups, and more, most made with fabrics typical for the practice, like chiffon, silk, and tulle.
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