We have long observed how fashion permeates various areas of life. From technology and science to art and culture, dance also reaches out. In this dynamic art form, costumes are often an integral part of the artistic presentation, helping to capture the choreographer’s vision. That’s why cooperation between fashion designers and choreographers can lead to the creation of a unique setting for a given performance. Fashion in dance certainly has great potential for development.
The challenge of creating appropriate costumes for the young dancers was taken up by the renowned British designer Grace Wales Bonner. In cooperation with The National Youth Dance Company, costumes were created for the play “Novacene” by Wayne McGregor. The show premiered at The Lowry in Manchester this weekend, and the band will also play London on June 3 before heading out on a UK tour.
International success for the designer
Grace Wales Bonner is considered to be one of the most influential designers of the young generation. Born in London in 1990, she has already won numerous awards for her work. The designer is known for her extraordinary attention to detail, and her clothes stand out with unique patterns and decorations.
In addition, they often carry with them important cultural and political messages. Many of her designs have references to the history and identity of the African-American community. Similarly, other cultural motifs emerge, drawn from Caribbean and African influences.
Wales Bonner rose to international fame in 2016 when she received the prestigious LVMH Prize. Since then, her designs have been featured in many important fashion shows, including London Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.
,,Novacene” – an exceptional spectacle
The National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) is a renowned British company of young dancers. It was created in 2012 by Arts Council England, an organization supporting arts and culture in England. In fact, the idea of NYDC is to develop dance and artistic skills of young people aged 16 to 25. It was established to give an opportunity career development for young dancers, regardless of their financial capabilities.
Their latest production, “Novacene”, is a choreographic performance created by Wayne McGregor, whose style combines elements contemporary dance and traditional classical technique. The show is based on the 2019 book Novacene: The Coming Age of Hyperintelligence by scientist and ecologist James Lovelock. It is a reflection on our future as a species in the context of artificial intelligence and its impact on our lives and on the entire ecosystem of our planet.
Wales Bonner has designed costumes for a total of 34 young dancers who currently make up NYDC. The outfits themselves are simple in style, with tracksuits, T-shirts and vests in white with red accents. “I have always been inspired by the rich and expressive gestures of dance in body design, so it was a great pleasure to work with NYDC and Wayne McGregor. I hope that these custom costumes will allow the young artists to shine with their individuality and energy,” commented the creator of the creation.
How does fashion intersect with dance?
Fashion and dance are an interesting combination of two separate but creative and generative fields. Designers, when creating unique and often very technically advanced costumes, do not only aim to emphasize the figures of the performers. It is on their shoulders that it rests to allow the dancers to move freely and to convey the character of the entire work. Dancers, in turn, are responsible for using the costume as an additional stage element. It is the costume that often allows them to embody the idea of the performance and present it to the recipient.
Fashion in dance is of course becoming more and more noticeable. Perhaps because such cooperation also has mutual benefits. Costumes designed by a famous fashion designer can attract the attention of the audience and help promote dance on an increasingly large scale. Likewise, the author of unique stage costumes can establish permanent cooperation with a theatre or group or gain recognition in the industry for their work.