Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon

CRITIC’S PICK: The often polarizing life of fashion icon Coco Chanel is portrayed in Belgian-Colombian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s full-length narrative ballet. Under the artistic direction of Gennadi Nedvigin, Atlanta Ballet is co-producing with Hong Kong Ballet and Queensland Ballet in this North American premiere. Chanel’s legacy is “defined by brilliant designs, shrewd business acumen, and glamorous lifestyle; and it is also defined by immorality and opportunism on her rise to the top,” according to Atlanta Ballet. “I am interested in telling stories about strong historical women,” says Ochoa, who has also produced works on Eva Perón and Frida Kahlo. “Behind the surface of a strong woman, there is always a hidden emotional story full of hardships and flaws.”

A press release announced that Atlanta Ballet, in conjunction with this production, is working with SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film and The Breman Museum to develop programs that focus on the House of Chanel’s immense influence on the fashion industry, as well as the harmful impact of Chanel’s antisemitism and collaboration with the Nazis. — Kevin C. Madigan