A tutu that turned the history of ballet upside down was presented in Kyiv – the creation of a Kharkiv resident
The Ukraine WOW exhibition is taking place at Kyiv Central Station until November 30, where, for the first time in 75 years, the ballet tutu of Varvara Karinska, a prominent native of Kharkiv who significantly influenced the development of stage costumes in world ballet, is on display.
On November 12, the exhibition hosted the grand opening of an exhibition dedicated to the ballet tutu designed by Karinska, a Ukrainian woman who became a landmark figure in the world of ballet. This artistic event coincided with World Ballet Day, which is celebrated annually on November 12. The organizers emphasize that a unique item, a ballet tutu, has been brought to Ukraine for the first time in a long time, and it can be seen in the exhibition space on the 14th track of the station.
The tutu, called Powder Puff, was created in 1950 for the ballet Symphony in C under the direction of George Balanchine. It was brought from the archives of the New York Ballet and is distinguished by soft, multi-layered materials, unlike the classic versions with rigid hoops. This innovative solution gave the costumes lightness and strength, allowing the ballerinas to look as if they were floating in space, and radically changed the idea of a stage costume in ballet.
Many outstanding personalities in Ukraine have left their mark on history, among them Kyiv resident Serge Lifar, a famous 20th-century dancer, and Varvara Karynska, whose legacy remains an essential standard in the field of stage clothing.
Earlier, the dessert “Karynska” was presented in Lviv, a tribute to the outstanding Ukrainian woman Varvara Karynska. This costume designer set the standards for the classical ballet tutu and became the first Ukrainian woman to be awarded an Oscar.
