Zac Posen Will Design Miami City Ballet Costumes
The Miami City Ballet will premiere a new production of N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz on October 16, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Dance
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Miami City Ballet will debut a reimagined version of the classic N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz on October 16, 2026. The production features custom costumes designed by Gap executive vice president and creative director Zac Posen.
Why it matters
This collaboration honors the original spirit of Jerome Robbins’ vision while infusing the performance with the youth energy and vibrancy of Miami. It marks the first time the ballet’s costumes have received an authorized redesign since the work’s inception.
The production includes a cast of 16 dancers wearing pieces from Gap's Fall 2026 collection. The costumes utilize specialized Infinity Stretch denim and modified construction to accommodate high-intensity stage movement.
The players
Zac Posen
He currently serves as the executive vice president and creative director for the clothing retailer Gap Inc.
Miami City Ballet
This is a prominent dance company based in Miami that maintains a repertoire of classical and contemporary ballets.
Jerome Robbins
He was a renowned American choreographer and director who created the original 1958 ballet production.
Gap Inc.
This American worldwide clothing and accessories retailer provides the apparel used for the production's costumes.
Ezra Hurwitz
He is a filmmaker and director who led the production of the campaign featuring the dancers in the new costumes.
The details
Commissioned by the Robbins Rights Trust and the Miami City Ballet, the wardrobe features denim, T-shirts, hoodies, and trousers adapted for the stage. Director Ezra Hurwitz also filmed a campaign featuring the dancers wearing the new attire.
Timeline
1958: The original production of N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz was first performed.
October 16, 2026: The new production premieres at Miami City Ballet.
Industry Dynamics
This collaboration highlights the growing trend of high-fashion and retail brands integrating directly into performing arts through authorized historical reinterpretations. By blending commercial apparel with classical choreography, the company shifts the traditional aesthetic boundaries of mid-century dance works.
Attendees will be able to see the premiere of this reimagined work in person at the Miami City Ballet on October 16, 2026. The integration of current retail pieces into the performance provides a more accessible aesthetic for audiences familiar with the Gap brand.
The takeaway
This production demonstrates how legacy performing arts works can find new relevance through contemporary fashion partnerships. Readers interested in the intersection of style and dance can observe how the use of modern materials like Infinity Stretch denim impacts the physical fluidity of the performance.
Further reading
For more on local performances, visit the Dance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FashionNetwork.
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