Dance has always been a huge part of my life. As a young ballet student I loved learning the dance positions, the swirling of tutus and the friendships made. My first job out of design school was as a costume designer for a dance company. By that time I had hung up my ballet shoes. Designing for dancers is similar to other theatrical costuming, one must create the desired characters and make an impact on the far away stage, but there is one major difference. Movement. Dancers’ costumes have to move with their bodies and sometimes act as a wearable prop.
My young twin daughters now take ballet. I love seeing them twirl and giggle with their little friends. However, in the beginning it was not all grace and Swan Lake! During each class the students have a break and drink tea out of tiny china cups. One day my more adventurous daughter decided to take a spin in the center of the tea party. The next thing I knew she tumbled onto the tea set, toppling over cups and scattering cookies. Momentarily I was THAT mom. You know, the one the other adults roll their eyes at and think “well, I guess HER kids are out of control!” At this point in life it takes a lot to make me uncomfortable, but for the rest of that class I avoided eye contact with anyone out of toddlerhood!
Love for dance can be a true passion, just like any other art form. There are so many wonderful ways to express oneself…through music, painting, writing, photography, cooking, decorating, or perhaps even planning an event for loved ones. When the muse strikes, another adventure begins…each of us trying to relay what we see, hear or taste in our minds.
