The Ballets Russes, under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev, performed in Paris from 1909 to 1929. It is considered one of the most influential theatre companies of the 20th century. The company was a huge success for combining new forms of dance, art, music and costume. Dance due to the creative, modern choreography they developed (assisting in creating a new form of dance referred to as Expressionist Dance) and their highly technical execution. Music due to their collaborations with Igor Stravinsky. Art due to their collaborations with rising contemporary artists who created sets including Braque, Picasso, Matisse, Miro, de Chirico, Dali, and Utrillo. Costume due to the great designs of Léon Bakst, that heavily influenced the Parisian fashion when they debuted. Paul Poiret, for instance, was extremely influenced by Léon Bakst's costume designs. Bakst's designs with bold hues, embroideries, heavy appliqué, 'harem' silhouettes was known as Orientalism.

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