A Maison known for poetic craftsmanship extends its artistic devotion to a new stage, where movement, culture and elegance meet. For more than a century, the Maison Van Cleef and Arpels has followed the rhythm of dance with the same attention it gives to its most precious creations. Ballet, gesture and the language of movement have shaped the Maison’s imagination since the early twentieth century. Today that legacy takes on a new dimension through Dance Reflections by Van Cleef and Arpels, an ambitious international initiative that supports choreographers, preserves dance heritage and opens new spaces for artistic expression. Now, this global vision finds a vibrant new home in Australia, where the Maison partners with leading dance companies and creators for a landmark cultural collaboration.

A Legacy Rooted in Ballet and Beauty

The relationship between Van Cleef and Arpels and the world of dance stretches back to the earliest decades of the Maison’s history. In the nineteen twenties and thirties, Louis Arpels was known to attend the ballet at the Paris Opera, drawing inspiration from the lightness and refinement of its dancers. This fascination soon found physical expression in the Maison’s playful ballerina clips, tiny jewels that captured dancers in graceful poses, their skirts formed from precious stones and delicate gold.

Those early creations were more than decorative objects. They were an ode to movement, a tribute to the fleeting poetry of performance, captured in a moment of eternal stillness. Over time that sentiment evolved, expanding from jewels to full artistic partnerships and, eventually, to a global cultural initiative.

Dance Reflections by Van Cleef and Arpels was formally launched in 2020 with a mission defined by three principles: creation, transmission and education. It supports major dance festivals, commissions new works, and ensures that the knowledge and heritage of choreography can be passed on to future generations. With partner organisations across Europe, Asia and North America, Dance Reflections has become a bridge between global stages, bringing together both established masters and emerging voices.

A Global Stage of Artistic Exchange

Across the world, Dance Reflections has illuminated the contemporary dance landscape through collaborations that embrace both classical foundations and bold experimentation. Festivals in London, New York and Paris have showcased a rich variety of works, from the refined geometry of George Balanchine to contemporary choreographers who push the boundaries of form and emotion.

In Europe the initiative has supported repertory companies who keep historic works alive while nurturing new interpretations. In Asia it has brought choreographers into conversation with diverse audiences, expanding the reach of contemporary dance beyond its traditional centres. In New York the programme has championed avant garde creators whose work blends movement, sound and visual art into immersive experiences.

Every city brings its own artistic vocabulary, yet the underlying spirit remains the same: dance as a shared language that crosses borders, eras and cultures.

The Australian Debut

This year the initiative arrives in Australia with a significant partnership featuring some of the nation’s most respected companies. Van Cleef and Arpels will support the annual DanceX festival presented by The Australian Ballet, bringing together leading ensembles from across Australia and New Zealand for a two week celebration of choreographic innovation.

This marks the first large scale collaboration between the Maison and the Australian dance community, and it signals a powerful recognition of the region’s creative strength. The partnership will include performances, workshops and opportunities for artists and audiences to engage with the Maison’s long standing passion for dance.

For Australia, the arrival of Dance Reflections represents both an artistic milestone and a cultural moment. It situates Australian creators within a global conversation and expands the reach of local talent onto an international platform curated by one of the world’s most admired luxury houses.

Crafting Atmosphere and Emotion

Dance Reflections is more than a programme. It is an environment, a world shaped by the Maison’s sensitivity to beauty, artistry and refinement. Like a jewellery collection, each festival and performance is curated with attention to detail.

The initiative captures the atmosphere of dance not only on stage, but also in the quiet moments that surround performance. Rehearsal rooms, backstage corridors and workshops all become part of the story. Photographers and filmmakers document these fragments, revealing the discipline and vulnerability behind each gesture.

This intimacy echoes the Maison’s approach to jewellery making. Just as an artisan shapes gold and stone into a piece that carries light, dancers sculpt air into movement that carries emotion. The two art forms speak to each other in their search for harmony, expression and meaning.

Echoes of Heritage in Australian Light

The partnership in Australia takes this relationship further, bringing the Maison’s delicate sensibility into dialogue with the raw beauty of the southern landscape. Australian choreographic identity is shaped by expanses of space, the energy of multicultural voices and a spirit that balances discipline with bold experimentation.

Dance Reflections embraces these qualities and offers them a new frame. The programme invites Australian audiences to see dance through a lens shaped by the Maison’s century long devotion to movement, grace and poetics. It also introduces international choreographers to the Australian context, creating a dialogue between traditions and new perspectives.

In this meeting of worlds, the gesture becomes a point of connection. A dancer’s leap can echo the sweep of Australian horizons, while the quiet poise of a classical pose can mirror the elegance of a jewellery setting.

Supporting Creativity and Future Generations

One of the most defining aspects of Dance Reflections is its commitment to education and legacy. The initiative invests in transmission, ensuring that choreographic knowledge is preserved, taught and expanded. This includes support for teaching programmes, public talks, masterclasses and opportunities for young dancers to encounter diverse practices.

In Australia this approach will extend to workshops and community engagements surrounding the DanceX festival. Students, emerging artists and local audiences will have the chance to learn from visiting companies and to explore choreography through new creative languages.

This emphasis on nurturing future generations reflects the Maison’s philosophy of continuity. Just as heritage craftsmanship is passed from master to apprentice within the walls of the jewellery workshop, dance too relies on a lineage of knowledge carried forward by those who inherit it.

A Continuing Journey

Dance Reflections by Van Cleef and Arpels is an evolving story, shaped each year by new partnerships, new performances and new cultural encounters. The Australian chapter adds a meaningful new dimension to this narrative. It brings together craftsmanship and motion, luxury and artistry, and heritage and innovation in a single living expression.

For the Maison, the initiative reaffirms that beauty is not static. It lives in movement, gesture and rhythm. For Australia, it opens a door to a global stage, offering artists and audiences a rare opportunity to see their own creative world reflected through the vision of an iconic house.

As the lights rise on new performances and the dancers take their places, Dance Reflections finds its next breath, carried across continents, expressed through bodies, and guided by a Maison that has long understood the poetry of motion.

Written by: Linh Giang Nguyen
Published on: 17th November 2025