The world of ballet is about to witness an exhilarating collaboration as Burberry’s new chief creative officer, Daniel Lee, teams up with the esteemed director and choreographer Wayne McGregor to bring a captivating visual experience to The Royal Ballet. In an unprecedented move, the duo will merge their distinctive artistic visions to create costumes for McGregor’s latest work, set to premiere on June 9 at the Royal Opera House in London.
McGregor’s newest ballet production remains untitled, but the artistic team behind it is nothing short of impressive. Alongside Lee’s innovative costume design, the one-act ballet features a commissioned score by Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, lighting design by Lucy Carter, and set design inspired by the late Cuban-born American minimalist artist Carmen Herrera.
This extraordinary project marks McGregor’s 20th work for The Royal Ballet, following his revival of “Woolf Works” in March 2023 and the critically acclaimed “The Dante Project” in 2021.
Daniel Lee, known for his unbridled imagination and exceptional passion for dance, is excited to bring his creative talents to the world of ballet for the first time. Working closely with McGregor and the Burberry team, the duo aims to craft something truly special, honoring the late Carmen Herrera while forging their own evolutionary path.
This collaboration marks not only Burberry’s first partnership with The Royal Ballet but also Lee’s inaugural work with McGregor. For Lee, the opportunity to create costumes for dance is a dream come true, allowing him to showcase his love for the art form.
Wayne McGregor has a history of successful fashion collaborations, having previously worked with COS in 2018 on a project at Pitti Uomo in Florence. The partnership saw the unveiling of COS’ menswear capsule collection “Soma” with a special event choreographed by McGregor.