Although the Ballets Russes first shocked Parisian audiences with their bold costume designs and exotic choreography in 1909, they'd eventually go on to become one of the best-known and most influential dance companies of all time. So influential, in fact, that French couturier Paul Poiret found ways to translate their costume and set designs into mainstream fashion trends that were eventually copied so much that they lost their original meanings and cultural references. It's time to uncover how Poiret — known as the "King of Fashion" — was so successful in translating elements from the dance company’s groundbreaking productions into his fantastical fashion collections that people eventually started to associate both of them together.
Join New York Adventure Club as we travel back in time to explore how French couturier Paul Poiret (1879-1944) and the Paris-based Ballets Russes ballet company revolutionized the worlds of art and fashion, and how they continue to influence popular culture today.
Led by fashion historian Sara Idacavage, this image-packed webinar surrounding fashion, dance, and fantasy will include:
- An introduction to the Ballets Russes and the productions, dancers, choreographers, composers, and designers that made them famous — including Nijinski, Pavlova, Stravinski, Picasso, Matisse, and Chanel
- A deep-dive into how Poiret made the blueprint for the modern fashion industry through his innovative promotional tactics, artistic collaborations, and the creation of the first “lifestyle brand”
- A taste of what it would have been like to attend Poiret’s legendary “Thousand and Second Night” party — one of the most famous costume soirées of all time — which epitomized the Western trend of “Orientalism”
- An analysis of how Poiret’s highly-publicized department store spectacles blurred the distinctions between fine art and mass consumerism in unprecedented ways, and introduced American audiences to elements of Persian art
- A look at generations of other fashion icons that have taken inspiration from the Ballets Russes and how the dance company paved the way for more fashion designers to become involved in costume design for theater, movies, and television
- An exploration of the many ways in which Poiret and the Ballets Russes’ influence can be seen today, from Instagram-worthy runway shows to controversial uses of “Orientalism” that are still common in the fashion industry today
Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Sara — any and all questions about Paul Poiret and the Ballets Russes are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!
See you there, virtually!
*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
About Sara
Sara Idacavage is a fashion historian, archivist, and vintage collector with a background in fashion journalism. She has taught courses at Parsons School of Design, the Pratt Institute, and the Fashion Institute of Technology, and is an Associate Editor of The Fashion Studies Journal. Sara previously managed the Parsons Fashion Study Collection, worked as an archivist for prominent American fashion designers, and interned in the costume collection at the Museum of the City of New York. Sara is currently a Ph.D. candidate studying the intersections of fashion history and sustainability.
Testimonials
" Great information and lovely photos" -Jan
" Excellent topic with strands of history not known to me before" -Wendy
" Everything. Pictures amazing. Commentary delightful. Watched on replay, will watch again before expiry. THANKS!" -Neil
" Enthusiastic and knowledgeable speaker, interesting subject matter, beautiful powerpoint presentation." -Susan
" The presenter was very knowledgable and gave an excellent lecture." -Lisa
" Loved the content, pictures, and enthusiasm of speaker" -Rebecca
" I really enjoyed the presenter and her knowledge." -Annmarie
" Of course I loved the content (otherwise I wouldn't have registered :-) The presenter was knowledgeable and enthusiastic (two great traits) From a long-time educator's point of view - stopping periodically with thought-provoking questions was a great strategy (nothing I've seen other presenters do - but that's okay :-) Sara deepened my knowledge and my interest in the topic so I will continue to research it on my own. Thanks!" Elise
" Sara Idacavage's presentation was a triumph of substance and style! Her slides are eye-popping and her narration is excellent." Linda
" The content and the history were enthusiastically presented, indicating it was well researched." -Ann
" Loved the content and also the chat function so I could read other attendees observations. More please!" -Sarah
"Absolutely wonderful presentation" - Lessie
"I learned so much and have been inspired to research both the Ballets Russes and Paul Poiret further!" -Angellea
"Engaging content and an Interactive presenter" -Viktoria
"This was a vast and expensive project. It was terrific, just terrific! I had no idea about fashion in this way, the history of the influences, the modern version of it, and what the word modern means in this context. I enjoy ballet, both traditional and contemporary. I have no idea how it influenced fashion and design is a great educator and fun to listen to. Loved the photos! Thanks so much." -Sharon
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Categories: Virtual, Moments in History
