On stage, the connection between ballet and fashion has always been clear. From the tutus to the tiaras, costumes are like cinematic tools, laying the groundwork for dance masterpieces to unfold. Off stage, the connection is just as present: “As a ballet dancer you develop a strong instinct for aesthetics,” says National Ballet of Canada principal dancer Heather Ogden. “The line of a leg or the angle of your arms is really important. We are very body aware and you learn what looks good on you and I think that applies to fashion too.” Last month, photographer David Pike visited the National Ballet to capture dancers in everyday gear while in rehearsal for the current production of Swan Lake. The grande dame of ballet is amongst the most difficult to perform for the principals, soloists and corps, which would explain comfort being of the utmost importance for all the company’s dancers. “I have to be able to move, and I have to like the way my body looks in whatever I’m wearing,” says second soloist Dylan Tedaldi. With that in mind, let’s view this batch of ballet street style as a lesson in how to look good all winter long.
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
Photography by David Pike
1/8
National Ballet of Canada Tina Pereira
Tina Pereira, First Soloist
“I have always admired the relationship between fashion and ballet and how they aspire to the same ideals of beauty. I have a dance wear company called Ballerina Couture and I make most of the leotards that I wear. I aim to make my leotards comfortable, flattering, and a little bit glamorous. Being a dancer, I love to be comfortable in what I wear and I love to feel cozy, so when falls arrives my go-to fabric is definitely knitwear.”
2/8
National Ballet of Canada Dylan Tedaldi
Dylan Tedaldi, Second Soloist
“I focus mostly on fit when it comes to my work clothes. I have to be able to move, and I have to like the way my body looks in whatever I’m wearing; anything fashion-related comes second. I’d define my style as ‘kindergartner lumberjack.’”
3/8
National Ballet of Canada Heather Ogden
Heather Ogden, Principal Dancer
“The costume I’m wearing for a performance can be a key component in helping me get into a role or become a character. For instance, right now in Swan Lake when I put on the tutu for the white swan Odette it feels pure and lyrical, but when I change to my black tutu for Odile, her evil twin, in the third act it effects the way I feel and dance. My costume helps give me the power and edge to seduce the Prince.”
4/8
National Ballet of Canada Alexandra MacDonald
Alexandra MacDonald, Second Soloist
“The girls in our company are quite lucky to have several dancers who sew leotards in their spare time, so there are always many options to choose from when getting dressed into our ballet attire. I love wearing other people’s creations for rehearsals!”
5/8
National Ballet of Canada Skylar Campbell
Skylar Campbell, Second Soloist
“Fashion plays a big role while I’m rehearsing and training. It all depends on what I will be working on that day. If I am doing something more classical I want to show off my lines so I would wear something more form fitting. Or, if I am dancing something more modern that day I would maybe wear a loose tee shirt and sweat pants.”
6/8
National Ballet of Canada Xiao Nan Yu
Xiao Nan Yu, Principal Dancer
“I like classic elegance. But I also like casual comfort, so I always try and combine the two.”
7/8
National Ballet of Canada Giorgio Galli
Giorgio Galli, Corps de Ballet
“I mainly consider comfort when planning my training wardrobe, but fashion definitely plays a role. We work in the studio up to 8 hours a day and some thought goes into planning our attire. I enjoy wearing vibrant colourful dancewear as well darker clothing on a duller day. I often like incorporating street wear into my outfits in the studio.”
8/8
National Ballet of Canada Selene Guerrero Trujillo
Selene Guerrero-Trujillo, Corps de Ballet
“As a dancer, my number one priority is to keep my muscles warm while still finding something flattering that will put me in the right frame of mind. When you only wear street clothes for about an hour a day, it’s important to feel at least somewhat stylishly dressed. Ballet is an aesthetic art form after all, so every little thing goes into the final product.”
