Will we compromise?
The most important thing in a dance costume is that it shouldn’t restrict the dancer’s movement. Of course the look is important to portray a certain image and tell a story, but in my opinion it is better to compromise a little bit on the look than the movement. That is what we needed to do for the war scene of the Les Danseuses dance production “When Life Happens”.
The fabric
This scene showcased a fight scene between two opposing groups, the army camo and the red uniforms. For the uniforms we wanted to use a stiff fabric to create military jackets, almost resembling the red coats warn by the British army, so we decided on a vibrant red mini-mat with golden embellishments. The fabric is very affordable and is quite stiff to get the look.
The pattern
Something to always keep in mind is that the dancer needs to be able to lift their arms and legs, bend their bodies and do quick costume changes. So for this particular war scene we decided to use a simple princess style jacket, where we eliminated the sleeves for ease of movement, because the mini-mat doesn’t stretch at all. The reason we decided on a princess style is that it is flattering on almost any body type and it is a popular design for jackets. We also decided to use zippers down the centre front instead of buttons to make a quick costume change easier.
The embellishments
Military jackets are iconic for their million buttons down the front, so we’ll have to add some, even though we’ve added a zipper. To really create a contrast with the red, we’ve decided to use gold sequence and buttons to resemble the military jacket. For an extra detail, we’ve added a circular golden cord around the right shoulder under the epaulet and this all really helped to sell the look and it was striking on stage.
Thanks for reading!
Read our next blog post to find out the story of how we made our first ever ballet tutu.
PS: The feature photo is from the dance production “When Life Happens” by LesDanseuses Adult Ballet studio. Photographer: Carla Nel Photography.
Online Courses
If you are interested in learning how to sew, sign up for one of our online sewing courses and start sewing in the comfort of your own home. Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced courses available to suit your skill level. Sign up now at https://online.craftchic.co.za/
Digital Patterns
Visit our online store and get your digital pdf patterns for your favourite items. There is a variety of patterns available, including dresses, skirts, tops, pants, casual wear and everyday household items.
