Chanel-Inspired Ballet MODANSE to Grace Dubai Opera

May 16, 2026

77 min

May 16, 2026 06:30

Dubai Opera to stage Chanel-inspired ballet MODANSE: Date, time and tickets

## A Unique Ballet Experience

Dubai Opera is set to host a special ballet performance titled MODANSE on May 17, 2026. This unique event combines the elegance of ballet with the world of fashion, featuring the renowned prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova and dancers from the Bolshoi Ballet.

## The Evening's Program

The evening will open with "Come Un Respiro" (Like a Breath), a 45-minute piece choreographed by Mauro Bigonzetti to the music of George Frideric Handel. This performance blends classical music with modern choreography and showcases costumes designed by Helena de Medeiros.

Following a 25-minute intermission, the second act, "Gabrielle Chanel," will take the stage. This 60-minute ballet, choreographed by Yury Possokhov with music by Ilya Demutsky, explores the life of the iconic fashion designer Gabrielle Chanel. Zakharova will portray Chanel, supported by a talented cast including Ana Turazashvili and Mikhail Lobukhin.

## Behind the Scenes

The production features over 85 custom-made costumes created by CHANEL’s Fashion Studio under the artistic direction of Virginie Viard. Zakharova prepared for her role by immersing herself in Chanel's world, studying her life and visiting her Paris apartment.

Composer Ilya Demutsky and director Alexei Frandetti have both expressed the intense creative process involved in bringing this ballet to life. Demutsky highlights the emotional depth of the score, while Frandetti shares how the project evolved from uncertainty to a magical experience.

## Event Details

MODANSE will be a one-night-only performance at Dubai Opera, starting at 8:00 PM. Tickets are available for those wishing to witness this fusion of ballet and fashion.

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