The Spanish National Ballet (BNE), together with the Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España (ACME) have once again collaborated in an interesting project; the production of the new official portraits of Ruben Olmo, the ballet company’s Director. An image campaign in which he wears a range of looks by Spanish fashion designer and member of ACME, Otrura. These photographs will publicize the activities and cultural events in which the BNE is involved in during the next two years.
Of all the garments used, the men's skirt designed by Otrura within his latest Movimiento 13 collection, and presented in February 2023 during Madrid Fashion Week, especially stands out. “It is the fashion brand’s characteristic hallmark that toys with gender and presents elements that are usually typical of men's trousers in a purely feminine outfit, such as a skirt” underline Sergio de Lázaro and Verónica Abián, founders of Otrura. The fashion brand’s Creative Diector, Sergio de Lázaro, adds: “this clothing is comfortable and allows the body to be active, an aspect that Rubén Olmo liked very much when he was able to execute his dance movements during the photo shoot, helping to express himself and enhance this synergy”.
Both Sergio and Verónica have defined the experience of working together with the BNE as: “…really proud. We had previous experience in the world of music designing costumes for various tours and for artists such as Vetusta Morla or Rozalén. But this project has allowed us to get closer to another scenic art: dance.
Otrura is an independent designer fashion house based in Madrid that creates contemporary garments with the utmost excellence through craftsmanship, respect for the artisanal trades, support of a sustainable message and practical designs. The firm has been a member of the Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España since 2022.
The new publicity photographs of the Director of the National Ballet of Spain are a part of the activities promoted between INAEM (National Institute for the Scenic Arts & Music) and ACME to develop the performing arts together with Spanish fashion within the collaboration agreement reached by both entities in 2014: cooperative collaboration in search of cultural excellence through encouraging the creation of new projects among the artistic directors of national companies related to scenic arts and music, and Spanish fashion designers.
For Rubén Olmo, Director of the National Ballet of Spain, “Otrura's design is a balance between that which is classic and new trends, between the catwalk and stage costumes. His design proposals for men are original and different. I feel very identified with the fashion brand”.
Pepa Bueno, Executive Director of the Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España, adds: “Dance and fashion follow parallel paths with many meeting points. They are disciplines that understand, need and complement each other, and the history of both is filled with stellar collaborations. At ACME we are proud and grateful for this joint work, which makes us better while contributing to the publicity of all involved nationally as well as internationally”.
The recording of the Christmas carol by the Spanish National Ballet in 2020 with Rubén Olmo dressed by Palomo Spain; the presentation of Oteyza's SS19 collection in 2018 with a casting of male dancers from the BNE dressed in their fashion proposals; the costume design for the BNE show Alento by fashion designer Teresa Helbig in 2015; the contest launched by ACME in 2015, and won by García Madrid, to define the National Ballet’s new merchandising or the presentation of the collection by Duyos “7 Islas” in September 2014 in which almost twenty dancers from the National Ballet dressed in his garments and which marked the beginning of the agreement between both entities, are other outstanding activities carried out within the collaborative framework between the BNE and the Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España.
Fotografías: Merche Burgos / BNE