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Capturing the Dance

“The Dance Class,” captures the raw beauty of ballerinas in their natural state—stretching, resting, and preparing—rather than in polished performance.

“Degas dancers“ from 1995 by artist Camille Norment. Art restored by @filiz_kuvvetli

“The Dance Class” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Featured here in the Etoile dress and Earhart puffer.

“This painting is titled L’Étoile (The Star). We see a lone ballerina on the stage, the stage lighting shining brilliantly onto her and her performance. She is en pointe, balancing gracefully on one leg and maintaining a majestic pose. There are flowers on her white dress; her ribbon flows out from her extended neck; and she wears a crown atop her head. She bends her head back and closes her eyes in sweet triumph at the success of her performance (perhaps the audience is clapping for this young star at this moment), and her rosy cheeks blush with the satisfaction of accomplishment. She almost could be a star, ascending to the heavens with her great feats of physical strength and perfected gracefulness. Maybe in this moment she feels, like a star, on top of the world, but one glance to the left and we can see, hiding behind the curtain, a foreboding, black figure standing calmly and watchfully to the side of all the action. This is the young dancer’s patron. His is the world of violent brushstrokes and threatening forms, as seen in the stylistic upper-left-hand section of the painting. The stage curtains are painted frenziedly, and that whole side of the painting seems to be inching toward the sanctity of the star’s glowing brilliance. The lines bear down over her and seek to engulf her. This is the reality behind this radiant performer. Soon her act will be done, and she will have to go back to her controlling male patron. Her life is probably actually quite far from being so bright off the stage, but here, for this brief moment of time she can break free from all of that in a dance that will elevate her to stardom. So she closes her eyes and dances away in happiness; but it is all farce, for a haunting and inescapable reality awaits just behind the curtain.” -Edgar-degas.net

The Lost Dancer

I’ve long been in awe of @isabellaboylston , a principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. Having her dance on set was spectacular. Even as we designed this capsule I had imagined someone as powerful as her bringing it to life. It was essential for me to cast ballerinas from the ABT because of my serendipitous encounter with the company in 2015, which eventually led me to Isabella. In early 2015, I lost my first fashion brand, Wildfox, to a bad partner and an even worse contract that enabled him to push me out of my own business, leaving me with nothing. I had begun conceptualizing Selkie even before this tumultuous conclusion (though Selkie was unnamed at the time), and after several months, with modest savings and my photography skills keeping me afloat, I embarked on a journey: seeking an investor—specifically, a woman. Call after call after call, I was finally connected with someone. Sharon, who served on the American Ballet Theatre’s board of directors, gave me hope during my darkness. She planned to visit California, inviting me to meet her for the first time where I would join her for a ballet at the Segerstrom Center. That night I drove alone for an hour on the 5 freeway, practicing my pitch with my Selkie deck in the backseat. It was a cold night and we talked in her hotel room for an hour before the show. We mingled in an upstairs room where she introduced me to her ballet friends, kindly exclaiming how talented I was. It was bittersweet, she was lovely, kind, and brilliant, but I had a strong feeling this wouldn’t end in a partnership. As I watched the powerful performance I suddenly had to hold back tears—grieving for all I had lost and hopeful for all that lay ahead. Though Sharon decided not to invest, she transformed my life in a completely unexpected way, she showed me what could be. That I might just get this brand off the ground. This positive mindset would kickstart a four-year long journey into launching Selkie. Like ballet, fashion has duality. Isabella’s sharp attention to detail and intelligent perfectionism reminded me so much of my own. I will always hold this day with her close to my heart.

Experience the Artistry of Night at the Ballet

Tell her story, set her free. A night at the museum, honoring Marie Van Goethem by remembering her story and giving her the life she deserved- a life respected on stage. This is for the ballerinas she represented, and as Degas painted. They were used and abused, mocked and ruined all for the art form that we so greatly respect today. Performed by ABT ballerina Madison Brown #ballet #marievangoethem #ballerina #degas @maddiebdancing_