Bodies in Blue
The color blue holds a number of meanings in different cultures, and it plays a role in a surprising number of dances performed at Jacob’s Pillow, with either costumes or lighting (or both) in a range of shades.
Next:
Tulsa Ballet
Celestial Bodies, 2023
In Andrew McNicol’s ballet, commissioned to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Tulsa Ballet, each of Louise Flanagan’s costume designs is distinctively different—but all in shades of blue.
Next:
Oona Doherty
Navy Blue, 2023
In this debut engagement by a group from Northern Ireland, the concept for the costumes (designed by Oona Doherty and Lisa Marie Barry) is that all twelve dancers are uniformly dressed.
Next:
Ladies of Hip-Hop Dance Collective
Parable of PassAge, 2023
For this world premiere, the distinctive costumes are credited to both Kia McCormick and the choreographer, d. Sabela grimes.
Next:
Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE
The Equality of Night and Day, 2022
Omotayo Wunmi Olaiya designed the all-blue costumes for this world premiere, with a score played live by composer Jason Moran.
Next:
Miami City Ballet
Serenade, 2022
As the first original ballet that George Balanchine created in America, Serenade boasts costumes designed by the legendary Barbara Karinska.
Next:
Elizabeth Streb
Tip, 2021
These unisex unitards were worn in all of the works presented by Elizabeth Streb’s trailblazing performers in this engagement.
Next:
Ballet Austin
Symbiotic Twin, 2019
For this duet by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, the multi-hued costumes were created by New York City Ballet’s Director of Costumes, Marc Happel.
Next:
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Eastman
Fractus V, 2018
Although each of these shirts designed by Sumire Hayakawa has a subtly different look, the overall impression is of uniformity.
Next:
Compagnia TPO
Bleu!, 2014
With costumes by Fiamma Ciotti Farulli and a visual environment by Elsa Mersi, this Italian company conjures an undersea environment.
Next:
Shantala Shivalingappa
Shiva Ganga, 2010
The color blue has long been an integral part of Indian culture, and it’s utilized here in a traditional costume.
Next:
johannes wieland
tomorrow, 2005
These pajama-like costumes by Stefanie Krimmel adopt a unisex look for this trio for two women and a man.
Next:
Ballet British Columbia
Return to the Strange Land, 1993
In a tradition that’s relatively common throughout the modern dance world, both the choreography and the costumes for this work were created by the same person: Jiří Kylián.
Next:
Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians
Magnetic, 1989
Not only did Laura Dean create both the choreography and the costumes for Magnetic, but she also composed the music.
Next:
Pilobolus Dance Theatre
Ciona, 1987
While the bright blue costumes by Malcolm McCormick may be seen as utilitarian, they allow the sculptural structure of this dance to shine through.
Next:
Cynthia Gregory
Brahms Waltz, 1982
The Pillow’s Resident Costume Designer, Charles Schoonmaker, drew inspiration from Ruth St. Denis’s original costume for this revival celebrating the Pillow’s 50th anniversary.
Explore Playlists
San Francisco Ballet
Concerto Barocco, 1956
Although audiences today think of Concerto Barocco as one of Balanchine’s black and white ballets (and this film is indeed in black and white), Eugene Berman’s original costumes were a deep blue, as can be seen in the final photograph.