The Royal Ballet Gets A Burberry Makeover

Looking at Daniel Lee’s debut as chief creative officer of Burberry we don’t blame you if the magical world of ballet doesn’t spring to mind. After all, the A/W 23 collection was an introspective exploration of Britishness with no shortage of that instantly recognisable check motif, trench coats, and an amalgamation of subcultures from punk to twee. Well, that isn’t stopping Lee from partnering up with The Royal Ballet to design costumes for an upcoming production.

While still unnamed, the show will be directed and choreographed by The Royal Ballet’s resident choreographer Wayne McGregor. Premiering on 9 June at the Royal Opera House, the work will be set to a score by Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir. The set design will serve as a homage to the late American artist Carmen Herrera who died last year at the age of 106. 'For this extraordinary Royal Ballet project with the late, great minimalist artist Carmen Herrera we dreamt of collecting together a stellar team,’ McGregor explains.

The collaboration marks the first time Burberry has created costumes for The Royal Ballet. 'Daniel Lee, an artist with unbridled imagination, is creating work of innovation, motion, and piercing beauty,' says McGregor. 'Together, with the Burberry team, we are working on something truly special – honouring Carmen whilst forging our own evolutionary path'.

Lee's praise from McGregor is a promising sign of the duo's first time as collaborators. ‘It is such a pleasure, and of course, an honour, to collaborate on this extraordinary project with so remarkable a team', Lee says. 'It’s always been a dream to create costumes for dance which is such a passion of mine.' Joining the ranks of designers who've created stage costumes for Royal Opera House productions, including Gareth Pugh and most recently Demna for Balenciaga, we can't wait to see what Lee has up his sleeves. Nova check ballet flats, perhaps?

Tickets for the show will be go sale 13 April on www.roh.org.uk