Demi-character costumes scale the depth and breadth of interpretation allowing dancer’s to stretch their acting abilities. What little girl would not want to be Little Red Riding Hood? This sweet little character costume steps away from the typical but keeps Red Riding Hood’s character true. A little princess line dress with a flared skirt allowsContinue reading “Little Red Riding Hood”
Category Archives: Demi-character
Rajah the Tiger
This was great fun to make. The dancer’s mom (from the US) sent me a sketch and asked me to realise it for her. I’ve worked with her before and she has great design ideas and understands the constraints of dance. I must admit, lots of people don’t and it’s sad to disappoint people whenContinue reading “Rajah the Tiger”
Three Peasant Pas Dresses
While the classical ballet tutu is the iconic shape for ballet there are a few other costumes that make a regular appearance. The peasant pas dress is one of them. Here are three I made earlier this year; the copper silk for YAGP and the blue silk and russet stretch for Alana Haines in Wellington New Zealand.Continue reading “Three Peasant Pas Dresses”
Apprentice Fairy Demi Costume
I do love requests like this one. I was asked to make a pink and gold “apprentice fairy” costume with golden wings. The client and I decided on an upside down tutu, with the shortest layers at the top, in a multitude of pinks. Here’s what I came up with. and to give a balletContinue reading “Apprentice Fairy Demi Costume”
Esmeralda Classical Tutu and Peasant Pas costume
One of my US clients sent me a box of beautiful fabrics and appliques to make her daughter an Esmeralda classical tutu and a Peasant Pas costume. Both costumes were made from the emerald green dupioni but I slightly darkened the fabric for the peasant pas dress by overlaying it with fine black tulle. TheContinue reading “Esmeralda Classical Tutu and Peasant Pas costume”
Maleficent
A client came to me a while ago for a tutu and asked if I’d make her a Maleficent costume as well. They wanted wings that could be easily removed in the early part of the choreography. Now before you get too excited, I don’t know how to make wings and certainly not easily removableContinue reading “Maleficent”
La Bayadere
This time of year I am extremely busy with costumes (hence so few posts at the moment sorry) and it’s sad when I have to turn people away. Although this costume request came in very late I had a postponement so I managed to squeeze this little temple dancer in. The costume is based loosely onContinue reading “La Bayadere”
Kitri
Kitri has a lovely costume in Act One of Don Quixote. This is a fully stretch version for a young dancer. It is modelled on the Bolshoi costume. This costume has a 4 tiered knee length skirt and bodice with a laced corset. I built the skirt onto a full circle of nylon lycra. TheContinue reading “Kitri”
Cosette Demi-character costume
I’ve spent the last few weeks making costumes for the local Musical Society. I do love making stage costumes. Demi-character costumes are a lovely mix of stagewear and dancewear. The character has to be self-evident but it cannot overshadow the choreography or the dancer. This costume is meant to evoke the feeling of poor mistreatedContinue reading “Cosette Demi-character costume”
Bluebird Demi-character
While i seem to mostly be making tutus every now and again i get to do a lyrical costume or a demi-character costume. Demi-character is a wonderful combination of ballet technique and characterisation. This can be dramatic or funny or sometimes just darn cute here’s a costume for the latter category; a little bluebird. TheContinue reading “Bluebird Demi-character”
