VERSACE BALLET

Swarovski were delighted to collaborate with Versace on the beautiful, bespoke ballet costumes at the spectacular Teatro alla Scala, to celebrate the life of Gianni Versace with a performance of the ballet “Thank you Gianni with Love”, choreographed by the late Maurice Béjart.

This compilation and tribute was the culmination of many successful collaborations. “Grazie Gianni con Amore” featured choreography by Maurice Béjart dedicated to the memory of his dear friend Gianni Versace and included never before seen choreography performed by the company of the Béjart Ballet Lausanne. Stage costumes for this highly anticipated debut were artfully created for the occasion by Donatella Versace in collaboration with Swarovski.

Donatella Versace said, “Working with Maurice is always an elaborate, intense and beautiful experience. There is so much work, so much anticipation and of course, so much satisfaction. Seeing and actually touching the costumes designed by Gianni is like being present at the moment of their creation. The memory of this experience will be part of me forever.”

Swarovski were honoured to be instrumental in realising Bejart’s vision of light through the use of crystal.
Maurice Bejart said, “For Grazie Gianni con Amore”, my costumes radiate light. I set out to create in a way that would maximize and compliment the physicality of the dancers, but without compromising their ability to move. To sum it up, I believe that form, movement and light are the key elements in theatre today.”
“Gianni was a true artist and as such he was first and foremost a great craftsman yet always a profound thinker. Gianni was too in love with life to not prefer the theatre above all else. Even fashion itself!
Thank you Gianni for bearing with me… Thank you for giving me so much… until tomorrow.”

Special guests present at this spectacular evening included Rupert Everett, Jessica Alba, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Nadege, Maria Carla Boscono, Quincy Jones, Karl Lagerfeld, Alessandro Dell’Acqua, Carla Fendi, the Zegna family, Sergio Rossi, the Missoni family and the Ferragamo family.

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Versace Ballet Press Release