Costumes

In 2008 I collaborated with Ruth Raynor in designing and creating costumes for performance artist and choreographer Caroline Bowditch. We worked together on her video piece ‘Proband‘, the performance filmed at the Sunderland Glass Museum. This was my introduction to costuming designed to be seen on film. The fabrics chosen were a fine flesh-toned silky stretch jersey backed by nude power weave for ease of movement, with exposed seams, fraying threads and graphics relating to the subject matter machine sewn on. I visited Caroline during the dress rehearsal at the glass centre to make final adjustments where we decided to cut away the top fabric layer inside the graphics, exposing the power weave and adding depth and contrast.

Following this we costumed two experimental dance pieces for The FATHoM Project. ‘Slight’, choreographed by Adam Benjamin, and ‘Type’ choreographed by Tracey West, and performed at Dance City in Newcastle Upon Tyne on the 8th March 2008. The piece was recorded live and the slightly grainy video is viewable here. We opted for contemporary outfits bought the week of the performance, adjusting the fit as required. I also crocheted a black choker with a fiery red and orange flower to give a Spanish flavour, and a counterpoint to a simple black dress which Tracey chose to wear wrapped around her wrist to accentuate the movement of her arm.

I went on to design and create the costumes for Girl Jonah, a collaboration between Caroline Bowditch and Fiona Wright with a performance titled ‘She Was A Knife Thrower’s Assistant’. The imagery of 19th century circus performers became the inspiration for the designs, and with the historical element for the pattern came the decision to use a non stretch satin, to have the material inform the movement to an extent. Both dancers provided a bra to build the top upon, and I built up layers of ruffles and tassels to good effect. The shorts were very reminiscent of 19th century burlesque dancers with additional ruffles at the back. The performance premiered at the Dublin Dance Festival on 8th May 2008.