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Ballet tribute for Gianni Versace Ballet tribute for Gianni Versace
(about 16 hours later)
A specially-written ballet is due to be performed in Milan to mark the 10th anniversary of fashion designer Gianni Versace's death. A specially written ballet has been performed in Milan to mark the 10th anniversary of fashion designer Gianni Versace's death.
Thanks Gianni, With Love has been put together by French choreographer Maurice Bejart, for whom Versace designed many stage costumes. Thanks Gianni, With Love was put together by French choreographer Maurice Bejart, for whom Versace designed many stage costumes.
About 1,500 guests, including Versace's favourite models, are due to attend the show at the La Scala opera house. About 1,500 guests, including Versace's favourite models, attended the show at the La Scala opera house.
The designer was murdered outside his Miami mansion on 15 July, 1997.The designer was murdered outside his Miami mansion on 15 July, 1997.
His sister and muse Donatella, who took over the Versace fashion empire, has created several costumes for the ballet. His sister and muse Donatella, who took over the Versace fashion empire, created several costumes for the ballet.
"It is the most beautiful gift I could do for him," she said."It is the most beautiful gift I could do for him," she said.
"He was a genius and a simple exhibition of his designs would have been banal."He was a genius and a simple exhibition of his designs would have been banal.
Maurice Bejart and Donatella Versace are in Milan for the show"Fashion wasn't enough for him, he also loved art, music, history and dance." Maurice Bejart and Donatella Versace were in Milan for the show"Fashion wasn't enough for him, he also loved art, music, history and dance."
'True artisan''True artisan'
Bejart, 80, worked with Versace on a dozen ballets from 1984 until the designer's tragic death.Bejart, 80, worked with Versace on a dozen ballets from 1984 until the designer's tragic death.
Shortly after his death, he described his friend as a "true artisan" and compared him to the "great creators of the Renaissance - always on a quest for novelty and beauty".Shortly after his death, he described his friend as a "true artisan" and compared him to the "great creators of the Renaissance - always on a quest for novelty and beauty".
Bejart's two-part tribute, known as Grazie Gianni con Amore in Italian, will pay homage to the shows he designed with Versace, including Barocco Bel Canto and La Mort Subite (Sudden Death). Bejart's two-part tribute, known as Grazie Gianni con Amore in Italian, paid homage to the shows he designed with Versace, including Barocco Bel Canto and La Mort Subite (Sudden Death).
Guests expected for the gala performance include supermodel Claudia Schiffer, designer Karl Lagerfeld and actress Liz Hurley, who became famous for wearing a Versace-designed black dress held together with safety pins. Guests at the gala performance included supermodel Claudia Schiffer, designer Karl Lagerfeld and actress Liz Hurley, who became famous for wearing a Versace-designed black dress held together with safety pins.
Fashion empireFashion empire
Versace was shot dead outside his Miami mansion (pictured)Gianni Versace was born on 2 December 1946 in the industrial town of Reggio di Calabria in southern Italy.Versace was shot dead outside his Miami mansion (pictured)Gianni Versace was born on 2 December 1946 in the industrial town of Reggio di Calabria in southern Italy.
He started designing clothes at the age of 22, and built his fashion empire from a studio in the centre of Milan.He started designing clothes at the age of 22, and built his fashion empire from a studio in the centre of Milan.
His 1982 collection introduced metallic garments that would become his trademark, and his elaborate stage costumes for Elton John in the late 1980s helped cement his reputation.His 1982 collection introduced metallic garments that would become his trademark, and his elaborate stage costumes for Elton John in the late 1980s helped cement his reputation.
The designer was gunned down outside his Miami Beach home by Andrew Cunanan in 1997. Cunanan was later found dead.The designer was gunned down outside his Miami Beach home by Andrew Cunanan in 1997. Cunanan was later found dead.
Other events scheduled to mark the anniversary of Versace's death include an exhibition of his sketches of theatre costumes on the streets of Milan and the establishment of a scholarship at the European Institute of Design.Other events scheduled to mark the anniversary of Versace's death include an exhibition of his sketches of theatre costumes on the streets of Milan and the establishment of a scholarship at the European Institute of Design.