Louis Arpels, one of three brothers who cofounded the French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels, liked to visit the Paris opera. Inspired by these performances, the maison created its first ballerina brooches in the 1940s. Later, Louis’s nephew Claude became friends with George Balanchine, whose 1967 ballet Jewels was an homage to the glittering figures.
From left: Ballerina clip, 1943; ballerina clip, 1945.
©Van Cleef & Arpels SA
This artistic exchange continues today with the Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels series, an annual festival that began in New York in 2020 and has since been held in Hong Kong, London, L.A., Seoul, and Tokyo. The multi-media series includes not only dance performances, but also film screenings, artist talks, and workshops, all open to the public.
Reflections: a triptych. On the other side by Benjamin Millepied. Dance Reflections, 2025.
©Van Cleef & Arpels, 2025/Laurent Philippe
During this year’s New York program (which runs February 19 through March 21), 20 performances will be hosted at nine venues, including the Park Avenue Armory and the Joyce Theater. Ballet lovers will recognize familiar figures—like Benjamin Millepied, a former principal at the New York City Ballet, who also choreographed and starred in Black Swan, who will present a triptych of contemporary ballets: Reflections, Hearts & Arrows, and On the Other Side. There are also works by the Lyon Opera Ballet, Trisha Brown Dance Company, Lucinda Childs, and more.
A version of this story first appeared in the March 2026 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline “Tiny Dancers.”
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