balanchine’s “jewels”
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“the ballet had nothing to do with jewels. the dancers are just dressed like jewels.” — george balanchine
considered the first full length abstract ballet, jewels consists of three acts: emeralds, rubies, and diamonds.
each jewel has a different choreographic technique, costuming style, and composer assigned. all costumes are designed by the renowned designer, barbara karinska.
first, is emeralds, in the elegant and romantic french style, wearing long green tutus and intricate bodices, with composition by gabriel fauré. the middle act is rubies, in the flamboyant and acrobatic neoclassical style, dancers clad in vibrant red ensembles inspired by the american jazz movement, with composition by igor stravinsky. finally, comes diamonds, in the classic and precise russian technique, donning majestic and pristine white tutus, with composition by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky.
jewels was inspired by the collection of new york city jeweler claude arpels, which balanchine had admired. pearls, black diamonds, and sapphires were also considered for additional or replacement acts, but ultimately balanchine settled on the renowned triptych of acts known today — because in his opinion, those gems were too difficult to stage.
jewels premiered on thursday, april 13th, 1967, at the then new york state theatre on the upper west side of manhattan. the roles were ultimately choreographed for the abilities of the original starring cast — emeralds featured mimi paul and violette verdy, rubies with patricia mcbride, patricia neary, and edward villella, and diamonds closed with a pas de deux between suzanne farrell and jaques d’amboise.
the choreography, costuming, and music come together to create a ballet akin to a concerto or set of modern paintings. with no set plot, the idea of different jewels only serves to connect the three acts of drastically different styles of dance, costuming, and music. the meaning can be interpreted to be anything the viewer desires. ultimately, it is a display of great achievement by the artists of the new york city ballet, and a pinnacle of balanchine’s intricate choreographic standard.
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choreo. by george balanchine, costumes by barbara karinska, photography by martha swope; 1967
