Kōrero: Ballet

Kristian Fredrikson, costumier

Kristian Fredrikson, costumier

Costumier Kristian Fredrikson is shown in 1990 checking a Royal New Zealand Ballet Company costume. The garment is typical of Fredrikson's work: sumptuous, jewelled and beautiful, while allowing the wearer complete freedom of movement. Fredrikson, a New Zealander, worked internationally, designing for ballet, opera and theatre companies.

Ballet is sometimes referred to as a ‘theatre art’ because it includes not only dance, but visual and musical elements. Set and costume design – the visual element – has been a strong part of New Zealanders’ response to ballet. For many decades ‘white ballets' – Giselle and Swan Lake, for example – were the most popular. In these, female dancers wear white romantic (mid-calf length) or classical (short or pancake) tutus.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1991/2241
Photograph by Ross Giblin

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Jennifer Shennan, 'Ballet - Expansion and security, 1980s to 2000s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/43142/kristian-fredrikson-costumier (accessed 19 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Jennifer Shennan, i tāngia i te 22 Oct 2014