{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O102949"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102949/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY1334/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY1334/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BY1334","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH5717","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O102949","accessionNumber":"S.455&B-1979","objectType":"Theatre costume","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Choreographer Alwyn Nikolais (1910-93) controlled every aspect of his dance works - as well as choreographing them he designed the sets, costumes, lighting and sound. His dancers were not required to be emotional beings but to subsume their individuality into the total theatrical creation. In the 'Finials' section of his work <i>Allegory</i>, first produced in 1959, he achieved the ultimate dehumanisation of the performer. The costume bears no obvious relation to the shape of the body but instead gives shape to it, and the dancer becomes an abstraction in the overall scheme.  \r\n\r\nIn this costume the placement of hoops around waist, knees and head is determined by the need to maintain a clear outline that has nothing to do with the human form. Jersey fabric is used as a covering as it will stretch tightly over the hoops, then curve softly inwards. The performer's face is entirely obscured. A description of  Nikolais's works makes them sound mechanical and inhuman, but on stage the mix of music, colour, light and shapes wove a potent theatrical magic, and the dancers were like beings in some alien universe, moving in perfect harmony.","physicalDescription":"'Finials' costume designed by Alwin Nikolais for his dance work <i>Allegory</i>","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Nikolais, Alwin","id":"A13425"},"association":{"text":"costume designer","id":"AAT163428"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre costume","id":"THES268477"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009BY1334","2006AH5717"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES342406"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES344341"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES344341"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Theatre Costume","id":""}],[{"text":"dance costume","id":"x34504"}],[{"text":"Theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"dance costume","id":"x34504"}],[{"text":"Theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"dance costume","id":"x34504"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"New York (City)","id":"x29030"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1959","earliest":"1959-01-01","latest":"1959-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the designer","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"176","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"fully stretched","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"80","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"62","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"measurements approximate","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"'Finials' costume for the dance work  <i>Allegory</i>, choreographed, designed, composed and lit by Alwin Nikolais and performed by the Dance Theatre of Alwin Nikolais at the Henry Street Playhouse, New York, 30 January 1959. The section 'Finials' was then reworked and shown on the Steve Allan Show, NBCtv, New York City, on 22 March 1959.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Finials' costume designed by Alwin Nikolais for his dance work <i>Allegory</i>, Dance Theatre of Alwin Nikolais, Henry Street Playhouse, New York, 1959","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Strong, Roy, Ivor Guest, Richard Buckle, Sarah C. Woodcock and Philip Dyer, Spotlight: four centuries of ballet costume, a tribute to the Royal Ballet, London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1981.","id":"AUTH349939"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Costume for <i>Allegory</i>\r\n1959\n\r\nThis extraordinary construction is a dance costume\r\ndesigned by Alwin Nikolais for his own work Allegory.\r\nNikolais required dancers to transcend their\r\npersonalities and become part of the total theatrical\r\nenvironment rather than trading on their individuality.\r\nThis costume aids the process by entirely obscuring\r\nthe dancer’s face and body.\n\r\nChoreography, sets, costume, lighting and sound\r\nby Alwin Nikolais (1910–93), 1959\r\nDance Theatre of Alwin Nikolais, Henry Street Playhouse, New York\n\r\nSynthetic jersey, card and plastic\r\nGiven by Alwin T. Nikolais\r\nMuseum no. S.455&amp;A-1979\n","date":{"text":"March 2009-September 2013","earliest":"2009-03-01","latest":"2013-09-30"}}],"partNumbers":["S.455-1979","S.455A-1979","S.455B-1979"],"accessionNumberNum":"455","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1979,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Theatre Costume","Theatre costume [1]","Theatre costume [2]"],"assets":["2019LP4444","2019LT5839","2019LX0223","2019LW2992"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-10","recordCreationDate":"2004-08-31","availableToBook":true}}