In depth research for my final idea

I have decided to combine natural world, and literary subjects. So I want my final piece to something that everyone will remember so want to make it a performance, and what better way to do that then dance?! In particular ballet!

I looked at different ballets such as the nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake and a Midsummers Nights Dream. The one that particularly stuck out for me was Swan Lake its such a beautiful, haunting story. I remember watching the film Billy Elliott for the first time, then seeing it in the West End and it was just amazing and thats when I first discovered Swan Lake:

So I decided to go back and see where this beautiful story started...

The original idea for the ballet came from a story called  Johann Karl August Musäus, "Der geraubte Schleier" (The Stolen Veil) as well as another folk-tale called'The White Duck'. Although not stated as a fact they have similar storylines so rumour has it that composer  Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky drew his influences for his now world renowned ballet from them in 1875/6.

I then looked at modern interpretations of Swan Lake such as Matthew Bourne's version and of course the film The Black Swan 

I got the inspiration for the hair from this promotional poster for the black swan:

I thought how amazing would it be if I could create a swan out of the hair! It may not work for the actual performance but for the photo shoot it would be perfect! 

I looked at various high fashion images which had makeup inspired by swan lake/the black swan:

Japanese Vogue

Fashion editorial by Ana Martinez, hair & makeup by Eva Sanvivas, photographer: Mara Saiz.

Black Swan inspired makeup at the Jean Louis Sabaji for his spring summer 2015 collection.

Editorial for Vogue
natalia bulycheva by vladimir vasilchikov for stolnick january 2016

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I love all of these images but think that the last one is my absolute favourite its so striking.

After researching I finally came up with my final design!
See my next post!