CLAUDIA SCHIFFER - VERSACE REMEMBERED WITH BALLET

VERSACE REMEMBERED WITH BALLET

Supermodels CLAUDIA SCHIFFER and NAOMI CAMPBELL and actress JESSICA ALBA were among stars who paid tribute to late fashion icon GIANNI VERSACE at a special ballet. The Sunday (15Jul07) show, which marked the tenth anniversary of the Italian designer's death, comprised a gala evening of ballet at La Scala opera house in Milan, to mark the designer's love of theatre. The event featured a new ballet, Thanks Gianni, With Love, by French choreographer Maurice Bejart, as well as a fashion show by Versace's sister Donnatella. She says, "Ballet was one of his favourite things. I cannot think of a better way to mark this anniversary. It is something he would have loved." She added, "(His death) was very difficult, there were tough moments, I made mistakes...Only now, after many years I begin to feel that I am in this role on my own merit. "Now I feel more secure and also capable of making this gift for Gianni, who I know would have liked it a lot." Versace was shot dead outside his Miami mansion in 1997.