ABT's Harlequinade Reconstruction, By the Numbers

American Ballet Theatre artist in residence Alexei Ratmansky‘s latest full-length, a reconstruction of Marius Petipa’s Harlequinade, premieres tonight as part of ABT’s spring season. Here’s a glimpse of what it takes to produce a new ballet of this scale:

It has been 10 months since American Ballet Theatre began planning its new production of Harlequinade, which premieres on June 4 at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

The production features 174 costumes, all created by the veteran ballet, opera and theater designer Robert Perdziola. That includes 172 pieces of headwear, such as hats and wigs. The designs are based on the 1900 originals, by Ivan Vsevolozhsky, also the designer of the original Sleeping Beauty.

Columbine’s second-act costume, which includes a tutu that falls just above the knee, gloves and a stylish plumed hat, cost $6,450 to produce.

Sketch for Columbine’s Act II costume. Image by Robert Perdziola, Courtesy ABT

Harlequinade
‘s big ensemble scenes set in motion scores of dancers, including 34 children, all students from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.