The Maison is very pleased to announce the sponsorship of the classic ballet Balanchine’s Jewels, by Hong Kong Ballet, as part of Le French May Arts Festival 2021 program.

Jewels was created through the acquaintance of Claude Arpels and famed choreographer George Balanchine, co-founder of the New York City Ballet. Their shared passion for gems and dance blossomed into an artistic bond that produced Jewels, a ballet celebrating the beauty of precious stones. This masterpiece consists of three acts dedicated each to a gem and a composer: Gabriel Fauré for Emeralds; Igor Stravinsky for Rubies; and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky for Diamonds. Since its premiere in New York in 1967, Jewels has become a significant work of the twentieth century.

Over the decades, Jewels has been interpreted many times by international companies such as the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris, the Mariinsky Theatre Ballet in Saint Petersburg and the Miami City Ballet. In 2007, it was performed at the London Royal Opera House, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels. Presented by the Maison today, Hong Kong Ballet’s new creation of Jewels will be staged for five performances from May 21st to 23^rd, 2021 at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts’ Lyric Theatre.

The longstanding bond between Van Cleef & Arpels and the world of dance dates back to the 1920s, when Louis Arpels, a fervent ballet lover, often took his nephew Claude to the Opéra Garnier, just a short walk from the Place Vendôme boutique.

The Maison’s first ballerina clips were at the beginning of the 1940s, at the prompting of Louis Arpels, Claude Arpels’ uncle. These creations featuring graceful dancers have since become one of the Maison’s stylistic signatures. Characterized by their vivacious lines, precious tutus evoking fluidly draped fabrics and elegant compositions, the jewels are crafted in three dimensions, sometimes displaying a delicate openwork. They showcase a wide palette of gems, orchestrating dazzling stories suffused with poetry and wonder.

BALANCHINE is a trademark of The George Balanchine Trust, which is not affiliated with Van Cleef & Arpels or its products.