My costumes were at the Garnier Paris Opera for all of December in a piece called “O Zlozony O Composite” choreographed by Trisha Brown. We had created the work in 2004 working as a team of 5 women both at the Garnier and in New York at Trisha’s studio. The piece was set on 3 of the POB Etoiles and it was a thrill to work with them as well as see it again in Paris. Choreography: Trisha Brown Music: Laurie Anderson Sets: Vija Celmins Lighting: Jennifer Tipton Costumes: Elizabeth Cannon
Aureli Dupont at 1st fitting at Trisha’s studio circa 2003
Initial sketches for the costumes and postage stamp of early football player which inspired the lacing
My initial idea for the costumes came from fencing. I wanted to give the dancer’s bodies more protection so I created quilted padded corsets out of cotton padding and muslin. One of the initial cast of dancers had injured their arm and asked for an arm protector. Soon all 3 dancers wanted one. There were 2 skirts for the female dancer- a longer and a shorter version for the sections where a longer skirt could interfere with the movement. In contrast to the top the silk organza skirt was very fragile-
Dancer at rehearsal in Garnier from the 1st production in 2004.
Aurelie Dupont who later became the head of Ballet at the Paris Opera dancing in O Composite circa 2004
I was happy to see the design of the costumes hadn’t changed at all from my originals.
The entance of Garnier designed under Napoleon 111 by Charles Garnier in 1875
me on the Opera staircase After the performance
The poster for the program
The Dancers taking their bows
I got the chance to remake the costumes for the Pa Ballet in 2016 - It was wonderful to see that Liliann is now dancing with the POB and performed again in O Composite.
Lillian Di Piazza Coste at fitting in Philadelphia in 2016
Marc Chagall’s beautiful ceiling at the Opera painted in 1964
We did many other wonderful things in Paris in the week we were there- Lots of museums, visits with old friends and lots of great food.
