Dance Project: Breaking Down The Poems

So as part of my specialist practice I am designing for a dance project with the theme of fairytales. The concept has a timeless feel and the choreographer is interested in using stripes, tweed, layers and greys.

I initiated my design process by breaking down 3 poems from the book Feirce Fairytales By Nikita Gill which the choreographer was highly influenced by. By breaking down these poems I was able to gage an understanding of underlying themes that I could represent in the costume and the tone that the piece might have. Once I had completed this I started to research into females in fairytales and feminism in fairytales in order to understand how princesses have previously been designed and been viewed as weak and in need of a man to save them. The choreographer was very active in stating that she wanted the dancers and characters to be strong females who don’t need to be saved but save and rescue themselves. Both breaking down the poems and looking into feminism have helped my designs develop as it made think about how I could take femininity and push its strength forward and into my designs.

I find that breaking down a script, poem or any literature, really helps me understand the plot, themes and characters to a greater depth. Or in case it helps me focus my direction and where I want to take costumes. From these poems they made me think of really strong rooted and grounded women where they are created and connected to the environment around them. Without breaking down and reading the poems I wouldn’t of been able to have this image in my head to draw my ideas from.