Bodice thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Bodice

ca. 1960
Artist/Maker

Costume for one of Swanilda's Friends worn by Doreen Wells 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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Brief description
Bodice for one of Swanilda's Friends worn by Doreen Wells in Act I of the ballet 'Coppelia', The Royal Ballet, ca. 1960.
Physical description
Bodice of costume for one of Swanilda's Friends in Act I worn by Doreen Wells. The cream bodice is decorated with red birds and flowers evoking Central European folk dress. The white underblouse with full sleeves attached to the bodice is decorated with red dots and maroon stylised foliage.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 3.90kg
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by the Royal Academy of Dance
Object history
Costume for one of Swanilda's Friends worn by Doreen Wells 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.
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Associations
Literary references
  • Coppelia
  • Two Coppelias
Summary
Costume for one of Swanilda's Friends worn by Doreen Wells 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.
Collection
Accession number
S.1599-1982

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdOctober 12, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSON