BLISS LAU X NEW YORK CITY BALLET
Introducing BLISS LAU x NEW YORK CITY BALLET, jewelry inspired by our love of dance, in tribute to the New York City Ballet. MUSIC MADE VISIBLE, named from the words of George Balanchine describing how he envisioned the act of dancing ballet; is a collection of pendants, inspired from the human body and its response to music through the art of dance.
These designs focus on the idea of interchangeable items that transform in a myriad of ways giving the wearer a complete “wardrobe of jewelry” by utilizing just a few pieces. Each pendant represents the form of a single dancer that can be worn alone, in pairs (a pas de deux), or as a pas de quatre with four figures on a single chain.
“In wearing the Music Made Visible collection, you can create your own choreography through jewelry, a beautiful movement captured forever from the New York City Ballet.” - Bliss Lau
The MUSIC MADE VISIBLE collection, Lau uses the form of a traditional ballerina as a starting point and then abstracts it in homage to the modernist works of George Balanchine, the legendary co-founder of the New York City Ballet, who redefined the art of ballet with his landmark 20th-century works. The MUSIC MADE VISIBLE collection is made in 18-Karat Gold and highlighted with Black Diamonds, White Sapphires and Tanzanite.
The centerpiece of the MUSIC MADE VISIBLE collection -the Panoramic Ring - is inspired by the iconic Lincoln Center theater that New York City Ballet calls home, which was designed by architect Philip Johnson in 1964 and is said to be inspired by a jewelry box. The ring exquisitely captures the view that a dancer sees from the stage when looking out into the auditorium with its five levels of rings, or balconies, studded with "jewel" faceted lights. For the Panoramic Ring this view is represented in a signature Bliss Lau 18-Karat Gold ring with diamonds embedded precisely where the jeweled lights are positioned on the rings of the David H. Koch Theater. The outside base of the Panoramic Ring is engraved with New York City Ballet.
Bliss Lau collaborated with photographer Matthew Brookes to create the beautiful images highlighting the jewelry worn by principal New York City Ballet dancer Sterling Hyltin, and soloist Zachary Catazaro. Known for his black and white imagery, Brookes is an internationally recognized fashion photographer and recently launched a photography book, LES DANSEURS focused on male dancers, published by Damiani. Stylist Christian Stroble, Makeup Artist Lisa Aahron, Hair Artist Claudio Belizario, and Nail Artist Etsuko Shimatani.
New York City Ballet is one of the foremost dance companies in the world, with a roster of more than 90 dancers and an unparalleled repertory of modern masterpieces. The Company was founded in 1948 by the choreographer George Balanchine and arts patron Lincoln Kirstein, and quickly became world-renowned for its athletic, contemporary style, and a repertory of original ballets that has forever changed the face of classical dance. Now under the direction of Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins and Executive Director Katherine Brown, NYCB is committed to promoting creative excellence and nurturing a new generation of dancers and choreographers.
The collection is available on blisslau.com and exclusively at NYCB’s gift shop at the David H. Koch Theater. To learn more about New York City Ballet, or to purchase tickets for any NYCB performance, visit nycballet.com, or call 212-460-0600.