Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci teaming up with artist Marina Abramovic for new ballet costumes

Hot on the heels of the news that Riccardo Tisci has designed costumes for pop star Rihanna’s Diamonds World Tour, comes the announcement that the energetic Italian will be working with his friend, performance artist Marina Abramovic, on a new production of “Boléro” set for the Paris stage. 

Premiering on May 2 at the Opera Garnier, the ballet is set to music by French Impressionist composer Maurice Ravel. 

“Boléro” first appeared on the stage in 1928, but the set and scenography for the upcoming performance have been updated by Serbian-born artist Marina Abramovic. Known as the ‘Grand Dame of Performance Art,’ Abramovic is perhaps most renowned for her 2010 installation at MOMA in New York City, titled “The Artist is Present” which saw her sit completely still, facing the public for over 736 hours. 

This is Tisci’s first experience designing outfits for ballet, but the couturier will be able to draw on the knowledge he acquired putting together on-stage looks for Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime performance in 2012 as well as the current Rihanna tour. 

Fashion and ballet have a longstanding relationship. Last year, designer Valentino produced costumes for the New York City Ballet, while in 2009, Karl Lagerfeld designed a piece for the English National Ballet’s “Ballets Russes” performances in London. The Mulleavy sisters of fashion label Rodarte also created costumes for Darren Aronofsky’s Oscar-winning ballet feast “Black Swan” in 2010. In 2011 the Opéra National ballet company in Paris worked with fashion designer Christian Lacroix on 77 outfits for a new version of “La Source.” 

The upcoming performance of Boléro at the Opéra de Paris is part of ‘BÉJART/NIJINSKI/ROBBINS/
CHERKAOUI, JALET’ a collection of pieces focussing on the famed choreographers’ work.