Last night we hit up the opening gala for the 60 Years of Designing the Ballet exhibit. Held at the Design Exchange, attendees were offered an in-depth look at the design work of The National Ballet of Canada, ranging from exquisite Swan Lake tutus to pieces plucked from the set of The Nutcracker. Curated by Caroline O’Brien, the peek into the collection arrived on the dawn of the National Ballet’s 60th birthday.
Upstairs in the exhibition space, guests — including many from the costume design realm — mingled over nibblies and wine before trotting down into the gala area. There, 60 tutus from The Tutu Project had the lay of the land, pirouetting (well, kind of) throughout the room.
After a series of speeches, guests were able to examine the tutu workmanship up-close. Designers included Sunny Fong and Amanda Lew Kee, artist Julie Moon, the Ballet’s Jennifer Zimmerman and a host of school kids.
One of the most stage-worthy creations was crafted by jewellery designer Shay Lowe: wrapped in feathers and studded with jewels, the tutu was an ideal pick for The Nutcracker’s Snow Queen, and it came complete with one of her eye-catching necklaces.
60 Years of Designing the Ballet, Design Exchange, 234 Bay St., 416-363-6121. July 11 – Sept. 2.