Question about Odette costume used in ABT Swan Lake

[Sebastian]

(Posting from London and apologies for having asked this elsewhere) We have the exciting Chloe Misseldine in town this week, guesting as Odette-Odile in a production of Swan Lake by the State Ballet of Georgia. I saw her London debut on Thursday and will be going back for her second performance tonight.

Might I ask a question about ABT’s costumes for Swan Lake? I understand Ms Misseldine is wearing an ABT tutu for her Odette with the Georgian company. This costume (apparently a style worn by all ABT Odettes) has an intriguing small red splash at the centre of the torso. I would be most interested in the history and symbolism of this innovation, if indeed it is an innovation. A reminder of her bleeding heart, perhaps? It can be glimpsed here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3whxo8Aesy/?igsh=MWc5MnVyZzVsOG54Mg==

[Sebastian]

PS Just out of tonight’s performance. During the interval I overheard someone say they thought the design was reminiscent of a swan’s beak.

[Drew]

On 8/31/2024 at 5:26 PM, Sebastian said:

PS Just out of tonight’s performance. During the interval I overheard someone say they thought the design was reminiscent of a swan’s beak.

I am afraid I do not have an answer for you and until I saw the question raised by fans who saw Misseldine in London I don’t think I have ever heard this discussed —worse, I don’t think my eyes really ever picked out the hint of red on the costume. But I didn’t want you to think people hadn’t seen the question or were not pondering it. I tried to see if there were any interviews with the designer Zack Brown discussing the production, but though there may have been I could not find them. An allusion to Odette’s heart—or perhaps a wound from Rothbart’s capture of her (which ABT’s production shows) is possible, as well as the shape suggesting a beak,but it also might just be a design choice and/or to capture light in a certain way…I am sorry not to have a better answer,

Edited September 2 by Drew

[Sebastian]

Hello from London Drew, thank you so much. Maybe someone on BalletAlert has contact with Zack and can ask? In my experience designers are often delighted to be asked about details of their work, as audiences so often miss things. 

In any case everyone I have spoken to here thinks the costume is gorgeous! 

Edited September 2 by Sebastian

[volcanohunter]

7 hours ago, Drew said:

An allusion to Odette’s heart—or perhaps a wound from Rothbart’s capture of her (which ABT’s production shows) is possible, as well as the shape suggesting a beak

Not an answer to Sebastian's question, but this piece on Pavlova's Dying Swan costume addresses the peculiar jewel on the bodice:

"Why and when the gems changed from green to blue or vice versa is curious. I understand that the central gem was meant to symbolise the soul of the swan. Later, ballerinas began to wear a red gem in the centre of the bodice supposedly to symbolise the fatal wound inflicted on the swan."

https://carolinehamiltonhistorian.com/2020/05/05/thedyingswan/ 

[Sebastian]

Thank you volcanohunter. By coincidence I have received a private message from an American expert in the history of ballet design who makes the same connection but says this is evidence of a designer having got confused. In any case he suggests not taking the ABT costumes for this production too seriously.