Photos: The Plié Project
Annalisa Cianci of Teatro dell’Opera di Roma models a paper tutu for a project highlighting diversity in dance.
Did you ever see the intriguing documentary by Vanessa Gould called Between the Folds? It’s about origami masters, and my husband and I heard about it because Vanessa’s parents lived in our town.
I have never advanced in origami myself — folded fortune-tellers are about as far as I go — but I have great admiration for artists practicing the craft. And not long ago I read an astonishing story about a project involving origami ballet costumes.
Leah Collins wrote at CBC Arts, “On paper, it’s a partnership that doesn’t immediately make sense. Pauline Loctin (a.k.a. Miss Cloudy) is an origami artist and self-described ‘folding warrior.’ Melika Dez is a photographer, one who specializes in capturing dancers in action. And around this time last year, the Montreal-based artists began collaborating on something they call the Plié Project: an ongoing series of photographs featuring dancers from internationally famed companies, all wearing original, hand-folded costumes by Loctin.
” ‘Paper is kind of fragile, but at the same time, it’s a very strong material,’ says Dez. Beauty and strength and fragility, all in one: that’s how you describe a dancer, right there. But who gets to be those things? …
” ‘In a world where the ballerina “has to look” a certain way, we decided to showcase the beauty of these unconventional but extremely talented dancers and break the boundaries of stereotypes.’
Amanda Smith, Daphne M. Lee and Yinet Fernandez Salisbury of Dance Theatre of Harlem and Dandara Amorim Veiga of Ballet Hispanico.
“Both artists have personal ties to the ballet, which partly explains their interest in the message. Loctin’s previous career was in classical music. The ballet, she explains, was always connected to her work. Dez is a dancer herself, and as a photographer, she shoots companies around the world, including the Black Iris Project in New York City.
” ‘In my work, I’m used to working with diverse people,’ says Dez. ‘There’s a wave of change that is happening in the dance world and it was important to me to push it forward because I myself, I’m a mix.’ …
” ‘There is a paper colour for every girl. … It was just an important message for me to put out there. For little girls to know that anything is possible no matter if they’re Black, white, Asian, Latina — anything is possible. They can do whatever they want as long as they put their heart into it.’ ”
More at CBC, here. There’s a terrific array of photos at the site.
Mai Kono of Les Grands Ballets.
I thought I remembered paper clothing in the sixties, and sure enough Wikipedia confirms that it was a short-lived trend. (just don’t smoke while you’re wearing it)
I remember that. Funny memory.
Wow! The skirts are gorgeous but don’t the tops look uncomfortable?! One of my blog pals, a very accomplished weaver, sometimes spins paper thread and weaves with it.
Would love to see that.
Wowsah! Fantastic. And I will see if I can stream “Between the Folds.” I love docs about art and crafts.
There are some pretty extraordinary artists in “Beyond the Fold.”
I found out it is streaming on Netflix, and I plan on watching it tonight.
Oh wow, these are lovely! I wonder how they would be to dance in though.
I read a novel in which one character (a circus ringmaster) wore a costume made of paper, and seeing these wonderful images has helped me to imagine it.
I think it is more of an art project than intended for actual dancing.