Inside the costume department - the dazzling designs of Jewels (The Royal Ballet)

Allan Watkins takes us through the dazzling details of the costumes for Balanchine's ballet Jewels. Find out more at: www.roh.org.uk/jewels
Jewels was first performed by The Royal Ballet in 2007, and is now celebrating its 50th year since its first performance in 1967.
Despite being inspired by the glitter of the stones in the window of Van Cleef & Arpels, the famous New York jewellers, Balanchine himself noted that the ballet had 'nothing to do with jewels' except for the dancers' costumes. It is a pure celebration of dance, choreography, and music - the jewels are there to 'make a point' - to be looked at and noticed, and to give the ballet its title.
Originally designed by Barbara Karinska, who worked closely with Balanchine, the costumes in each act refer to a different period of ballet history. Allan Watkins, who is supervising the recreation of Karinska's work, takes us through the intricacies of these amazing costumes - which can take up to two weeks to fit for each dancer -from the longer skirts of French Romantic ballets, to the more revealing (skirt-less) Hollywood period, and the shorter, softer tutus of the ballets of Imperial Russia.

[@RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[@emitch9213]

Costume designers and seamstress have always fascinated me. Their skill is always marked with such a detailed commitment for the fine art ballet as is. Their intuitive feel for a dancer's body and movement is with such a high intregity to the whole art of dress and who wears the piece for performance. Thank you. Seems their recognition is highly respected always to appreciated, yet how easy to over look what their purpose contributes in history of ballet. Stunning group of talented staff.

[@alecsia96]

I don't care, i want that Emeralds romantic tutu

[@hgclerma]

These costumes are absolutely exquisite!!!

[@blacktearsforshow]

I love the Rubies outfits so so much.

[@DuchessRococoPuff]

I could look at Royal Ballet’s costumes for hours. So many beautiful fabrics and details!

[@flowerchild4100]

his accent is incredibly posh. i am shooketh

[@pawakin]

1:32 That skin tone match on the chest piece of the bodice! Perfection!

[@callmegwen9513]

My dream is to work as a costume maker for balet shows omg they are soooo amazing : )

[@katyhilton9627]

YellowPaladin Same, they all look so magical! ✨

[@dawn8525]

Me too😍 I want to design costumes for musicals and ballet shows however in Hong Kong where I live opportunities are bery narrow

[@patriciabilinkas3911]

I love the sparkle of these costumes.

[@cintiatchorbadjian592]

Speechless after so much beauty and elegance

[@tanaevans3776]

This is wonderful. The insight and knowledge. I wish I had a tiny drop of what I

[@timothyswan567]

pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls do a video about the costumes of Giselle and swan lake please I would love if you will do it my mom is a professional ballet dancer and she passed away just this month

[@IsabelHernandez-cq3qh]

Timothy swan I'm so sorry for your loss 😢😢

[@ishenicole9987]

I would love to see them for real.. All of them are absolutely gorgeous ❤️❤️❤️🌹

[@e.i.3077]

I ADORE that there are no hideous saucer plate tutus. The reason why Giselle, Jewels and (Royal Opera Ballet's) Don Quixote are my favourites and why I struggle to like The Nutcracker at all.

[@ernestcastro6238]

Thank you very much.

[@jemimaarnold3978]

my dream job ! 🥰✨

[@belllllllllllzita]

I Love ballet

[@zoefang4563]

Emeralds are the best of the "Jewels" Ballet

[@kfcubley7607]

I want to see this ballet

[@kunruki574]

My co may dc ko

[@dominiquebourjaccollier6788]

this dancer has a very ordinary face!

[@oworosie931]

dominique bourjac what does that even mean

[@leoninsf]

dominique bourjac dear Dominique Bourjac, we dancers are just ordinary people. However, when we are on stage we transform into magical creatures.

[@horcruxfinder1]

so many people seem to mistake the whole point of them being dancers

[@sela5613]

she's not a model, she is a dancer, an actress of movement