From the time I was four, I was taking dance classes dressed in tights, leotards, and tutus. My favourite time of year was when we began learning our recital pieces. As we practiced my excitement grew along with the development of the dance. The more we rehearsed the more I was able to connect with the story and meaning that we were portraying through movement. Nothing helped me get into character better than dancing in our costumes. Unfortunately, while in my costume I first had to ignore the itchiness and discomfort that was almost always present. I felt that my performance was impacted by the distractions caused by uncomfortable costumes. I was unable to focus on the thrill of being on stage and showing off my hard work form throughout the year.
Later in my dance career, my dance studio had the opportunity to collaborate with my grandmother, Sandra Ball of San’s Tailored Designs to create some costumes for our end of year performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. As a senior dancer in my studio, my teacher allowed myself and my peers to provide ideas and feedback. For the first time I was able to be an active participant in the creative expression of our performance through costuming. This experience not only allowed us to ensure the costumes were comfortable, but it gave us insight into the details that need to be considered to create the best costume.
Just like in dance, every part of a costume needs to be thoughtfully and purposefully created from multiple points of view. How does the dancer feel wearing it? Does it help in portraying the meaning behind the dance? Does the costume compliment the dancer’s figure and body type? Additionally, you need to consider how the costume will look from the audience. Will the dancer stand out and sparkle from far away, and under the stage lighting? Will the costume aid the audience in understanding the story or distract from the message the performers are communicating through dance.
Another important factor to consider is the reliability and quality of the costume. In my studio we often reused costumes and passed them down as younger dancers grew older. Not to mention the wear and tear that costumes must endure just in one year. The last thing anyone wants to deal with during performance season is a costume malfunction. So you must be able to rely and trust the quality of your costume.
With the guidance and expertise from my grandmother Sandra, our studio was able to collaborate to create beautiful, customized costumes that were comfortable and complimented our bodies as we danced. She was always open to listening to new ideas and found creative ways to make our dreams a reality without sacrificing comfort or quality. My Gran included me in some of the behind-the-scenes decisions that she made as a seamstress, so I was able to see firsthand her hard work and dedication to perfection. I loved being able to watch as the costumes developed from pieces of fabric, into beautiful works of art.
If you're looking to bring your dance costume dreams to life, I wholeheartedly recommend engaging San's Tailored Designs. With a legacy of comfort, creativity, and dedication, Sandra will collaborate with you to craft costumes that let you shine on stage while feeling your best. Your dance journey deserves nothing less than the magic of a well-crafted costume.
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