Costume for Swanilda worn by Lois Strike in Act I of the ballet 'Coppelia', Ballet For All, ca. 1970.

Costume for Swanilda in Act I worn by Lois Strike. Sun-ray pleated off white skirt with wide decorative waistband and apron with 'folklorique' appliqued motifs.

Given by the Royal Academy of Dance

Costume for Swanilda worn by Lois Strike in Act I of the ballet 'Coppelia'. The ballet, with music by Leo Delibes and choreography by Arthur Saint-Leon, was first performed at the Paris Opera on 25th May, 1870. In 1884, the ballet was restaged in St. Petersburg with new choreography by Lev Ivanov and Enrico Cecchetti for the Imperial Russian Ballet. This version of the work was notated by Nicholas Sergeyev before the Russian revolution, and it was he who staged the Ivanov/Cecchetti production for the Vic Wells (now Royal) Ballet at Sadler's Wells in 1931. Ninette de Valois revised Sergeyev's staging for a new production at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 2nd March 1954. This production was designed by Osbert Lancaster, and is still in the current repertoire of The Royal Ballet (2004).

Lancaster's costumes were used in the Ballet For All production 'Two Coppelias' in 1967, and both sets and costumes were also used for Peter Wright's staging of the ballet for Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet in 1975.

Lois Strike performed with Ballet For All in 1971, and danced the role of Swanilda with Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet in 1975.

Reason For Production: Commission

S.1594-1982