Gabrielle Chanel: A Tribute to the Legendary Couturier, at Dubai Opera this Spring
On 8 March 2026, Dubai Opera becomes the stage for MODANSE, a double bill that exists at the intersection of classical ballet and haute couture. Presented by M Premiere and MuzArts, this one-night-only performance brings together prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova and an ensemble from the Bolshoi Ballet in what promises to be both the first and possibly final presentation of this work.
The evening opens with Come Un Respiro (Like a Breath), choreographed by Mauro Bigonzetti to the music of George Frideric Handel. This 45-minute work marries Baroque elegance with contemporary aesthetics, with its visual impact amplified by avant-garde costumes from designer Helena de Medeiros. Zakharova performs alongside Ildar Gaynutdinov, Artemy Belyakov, Mikhail Lobukhin, Vyacheslav Lopatin, and Ana Turazashvili, their movements offering a meditation on grace rendered in the language of the 18th century reimagined for the present moment.
Following a 25-minute interval, the second act presents Gabrielle Chanel, choreographed by Yury Possokhov with music by Ilya Demutsky. This hour-long work explores the life of the legendary couturier, not as biography but as a study in the relationship between personal freedom and aesthetic revolution. Under the artistic direction of Virginie Viard, CHANEL's Fashion Studio designed over 85 bespoke costumes specifically for this production, each garment a testament to the house's enduring design philosophy.
Zakharova embodies Chanel herself, a role for which she undertook considerable preparation. Her research extended beyond biographies and films to include a visit to Chanel's Parisian apartment, where the designer's collections of jewellery, costumes, shoes, and perfumes remain preserved. The transformation, as Zakharova describes it, began before the camera during a photo session when hair, makeup, and costume converged to reveal 'Chanel' in the mirror. The task, she observes, lies in inhabiting the character entirely, dancing not merely steps but emotions and experiences as felt through her own artistic sensibility.
The connection between Chanel and Russian ballet runs deeper than this production alone. The couturier maintained a profound appreciation for Russian ballet and frequently employed aristocratic Russian women, who had fled their homeland, as models in her atelier. These women helped create what would become some of the most influential designs of the 20th century. This historical thread weaves through the performance, acknowledged but never over-emphasised.
Composer Ilya Demutsky, who previously collaborated with Possokhov on A Hero of Our Time and Nureyev, describes the music as "slightly flavoured with a French aroma," containing space for both light-heartedness and tragedy, brief fascination and profound feeling. His presence at rehearsals allowed him to witness the persistent labour of Zakharova and Possokhov gradually transforming into what he calls "the very essence of naturalness," the point at which choreography becomes inseparable from the body that executes it. The music, he suggests, insists on sensuality, that quality without which creation becomes impossible, the quality that defined Gabrielle Chanel's work and legacy.
Libretto writer and director Alexei Frandetti initially doubted whether Chanel's story could be danced at all, let alone condensed into a single act. Those doubts dissolved during the first rehearsal with Zakharova, when he recognised the magic she radiates, not merely dancing but living and breathing with her character.
The production features set design by Maria Tregubova, video design by Ilya Starilov, and lighting by Ivan Vinogradov. Ana Turazashvili performs the dual role of Chanel's sister and aunt, whilst Mikhail Lobukhin appears as Étienne Balsan and Artemy Belyakov as Arthur Capel, the two men who significantly influenced Chanel's personal and professional trajectory.
MODANSE received its world premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre on 22 June 2019, created by MuzArts specifically for Zakharova. The work represents a collaboration between choreographers, musicians, and costume designers that extends beyond conventional performance parameters to explore how movement and fashion might illuminate one another.
The performance begins at 8:00 PM. Tickets remain available through Dubai Opera's booking platform, though the singular nature of the event suggests they may not remain so indefinitely.
