A Fashionable Dance |
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| Written by Stephanie Mariani | |
The Melbourne Ballet Company has just been relaunched with it's exciting Project One coming soon! Steph Mariana attended the opening and chatted with Artistic Director Alise Finney and dancers.
A vintage bar, marble floors, high ceilings, chandeliers, patterned parquetry, drinks that flowed like a cascade waterfall and then there was the ballet. It was an icy Melbourne night, but inside the Comme (previously Mietta's), the atmosphere was scorching! It was a glamorous crowd consisting mainly of media persons and VIPs that sipped champagne and shuffled around. Many were there to support the Arts in Melbourne. The art in question - ballet, and survival of which is most generously supported by sponsors and donors, some of which included Koko black, SanPellegrino, Bulgari, Bloch and the divine designer Matthew Eager. A night of intrigue awaited me – despite being privy to the ballet, the night was surreal. Amateur ballerinas, who all attend the Melbourne Ballet School, (and all dream of making it into the Company) fluttered around in their white tutu’s ensuring everyone had a smile on their face, one lovely moment was watching celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott (of the UK TV show Ready Steady Cook) posing for photos with the gorgeous ballerina's. We were only given a sneak peak of Project One and my eyes could not help but notice what the dancers were wearing, indeed Matthew Eager designed dresses with Bulgari (no less) jewellery - divine! There was no stage – the dancers moved like willows in the wind while the audience admired and commended the delicate choreography. Project One is a trilogy of diverse stories: Phases, Primere Amore and In Paradisum and presented by the Melbourne Ballet Company. Now if you're a Sex and the City fan (and I’m sure many of you are!) you'll remember all the parties Carrie attended….let me tell you, those parties do exist! Mixing it with media personnel, having waiters at your beck and call and even receiving free gift bags makes you love the good life! Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't just there to drink the free champagne and check out the cute men in suits, I was there – representing AskBronny.com (with the lovely Miss Bronny of course) and chatting with the dancers and Artistic Director Alisa Finney. The ballerinas were wearing Matthew Eager designs and Eager, known for his classical gowns, complemented the glitzy atmosphere with his collection – made especially for Project One. It was all about dark colours, strapless gowns and even shorter dresses that showed off sculptured calf muscles. Despite the designs not being traditional ballet costumes, they were "more for the look", said ballerina Lauren Scarcella. The softly spoken, petite dancer also mentioned having "good fabrics" help any performance "[what the dancers are wearing] helps define the characters and story-line". The men were dressed by Brent Wilson and all looked sharp and sophisticated in their suits. Artistic Director Alisa Finney, graceful, artistic and elegant proudly surveyed the opening night on what has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve. She looked stunning in a vintage black gown with sparking Bulgari jewels, which complemented the embroidery on the shoulders of the dress perfectly. It was actually Alisa who chose Matthew Eager to design the dresses to which she added exemplified the "stunning [dancers and] stunning venue". A former ballet dancer herself, Alisa was very humbled by the experience in particular because of the connection with her mother who had been a part of the original Melbourne Dance Company. Alisa has hopes that Project One will attract people who were "frightened" of attending the ballet to come and see "something new and different". Amongst those in the crowd was emerging Melbourne designer Jacqui Alexander. She was wearing her own designs – a spaghetti strap knee length beige dress with ruffled hem, teamed with a black waist belt, grey stockings and brown ankle boots. She just released her winter range at Sydney Fashion week and her designs sell in Melbourne stores like Cactus Jam. Check her out at www.jacquialexander.com.au. Towards the end of the night I found myself chatting with AskBronny's very own Buxom Babe Blogger Kimba - a vivacious, gorgeous, witty gal who'd liven up any party! Once the guests began pouring out, I decided to disappear into the night – but not before I checked out the bathrooms – a definite must at all parties! The Comme has such luxurious bathrooms, you'd forget you were ever in one – but alas it was to home I must head with visions of chandeliers, candelabra, sparkling champagne, jewels, Matthew Eager and of course ballet on my mind! The Melbourne Ballet Company's Project One is on in Melbourne from June 19-22 at the Gasworks Theatre. Book your tickets at www.gasworks.org.au. The show also travels to Sydney on the 25th June at the Riverside Theatre. Contact the box office on (02) 8839 3399. |
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