In a city accustomed to grand performances and diverse nights, it is now time for a blend of fashion, music, and ballet.

Dubai Opera will host the performance of "MODANSE" on May 17; a two-part performance that narrates the life and world of Gabrielle Chanel through the language of dance.

This program will be on stage for just one night, and its second part, titled "Gabrielle Chanel," has been introduced as the only performance of this ballet in 2026; a performance that may not be repeated.

The star of the night is "Svetlana Zakharova," the famous Russian ballerina and a well-known face of the Bolshoi Ballet; she will portray Coco Chanel, recreating her life journey, from personal relationships to emotional ups and downs, on stage.

The first part of the program begins with the performance of "Come Un Respiro"; a 45-minute piece with music by Handel and contemporary dance design, combining classic and modern atmospheres.

After a short break, the main performance of the night, "Gabrielle Chanel," will begin; a 60-minute ballet created with music by Ilya Demutsky and design by Yuri Possokhov.

One of the unique aspects of this project is the direct collaboration of the CHANEL fashion studio in designing the costumes. For this performance, over 85 custom outfits have been designed; details that make MODANSE more than just a ballet performance, resembling a live show of fashion and art.

Zakharova has said that when she first saw herself in the mirror with the makeup and costume of Chanel, she felt she had truly entered her character. She has studied biographies and films related to Chanel for this role and even visited her famous apartment in Paris.

The performance of MODANSE first took the stage in 2019 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, and now Dubai Opera is hosting one of its most special versions.

Performance Date: May 17, 2026

Time: 8 PM

Location: Dubai Opera

Source: Gulf News

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