Costume Perfection -A Nightmare or A Dream?
Immediately, the following might pop into your head ...high kicks...pretty costumes....straight line...New York City...great dancers. Good answers, but remember only one word allowed. Give up? How about the word precision? I think that totally sums it up, don't you agree? Even though we know their height varies by at least 2 inches, they all look and dance exactly the same. Every head, every arm, every foot, every kick, every collar and even every cuff are the end results of "cookie cutter perfection".
As a dance teacher we all yearn for this precise perfection with our group's performances. It can be done. The exactness of the Rockettes' routines CAN be accomplished in your studio. The flawlessness of their costuming can be a reality for you as well. There is no sign of "I"ndividuality in the Rockettes and there is no "I" in the word TEAM. Once you accomplish that...you are well on the way to your own version of precise group perfection in every group you showcase. You too can have your own local version of the Rockettes. Perhaps not 36 high kicking dancers, but 6 well trained and well groomed students will do just fine. That is perfection.
We all know that the only way perfection shows in the performance is through practice. Lots and lots of practice and lots of patience to go with it; that is what it takes. Give it plenty of time. One cannot rush perfection. Keep reminding yourself, "Practice makes perfect" and perfect makes a happy teacher. Stick to it and you will be pleased with the success of your choreography and the students' execution of it.
Costuming your dancers takes an enormous amount of time to be perfect. But, in addition to that, it takes lots and lots of planning, the right timing and paying attention to details...each and every detail. From the top of their heads to the tip of their toes, from their hat to their shoes and everything in between, each and every student in your group should look alike in every way. That blueprint is your guide to perfection in costumes and grooming. Let's examine how you can achieve the end result and have costume perfection in your studio.
The following Time Guideline for Recital Costumes has worked well for me for many years. Adjust and adapt it to fit your own individual needs.
October - Costume catalogs start to arrive. Go thru them as they come in and mark selections you like and that fit your budget. Keep in mind your theme, music, age of dancers and using a variety of colors and fabric patterns when making selections. Consult with your teachers as to what they feel would work for the class routines they will be choreographing, but YOU make the final selections. NEVER allow students or parents to view catalogs and have a say in the choice...this is an open invitation for a nightmare full of problems. Costume Deposit Forms go out.
November - Now delete some costume choices to be more specific with what you will order. Start to coordinate shoe and tight colors as well as accessories needed for performance. In my studio, the shoes they will use in recital, are the same ones they purchased for class at the beginning of the year. If that is not the case, inform all of what they will actually need. This is where your pre-planning comes into play. Costume Balance Forms go out.
December - Costume choices have been narrowed down to no more than 2 per routine. With some classes your choice has already been made. Students are measured and you have added 2" to 3" to the girth measurement to allow for growth. Costume Balance Forms, paid in full, are due by the 10th. Before the 31st....your order is complete and in the mail. You have taken advantage of as many discounts that apply for early ordering. The major part of ordering is complete.
January - now it is time to focus on the details...all of them. The most important decision for you to make now is how to provide a complete costume...ready to wear ...which includes everything the students will need. Leave nothing to chance. Decide what the basic costume you ordered needs to make it complete. Record these choices on the class page in your costume ordering book. Then, if you have not already done so, YOU order what is needed to complete this task. Do not leave anything for the parents to provide.
Start now to create, hot glue, staple and maybe in some cases, sew all that you need. I am sure you have moms who wait in the lobby while their child is in class. Recruit them! I have a whole squad of moms who help out every year. They are great and are more than willing to be part of the team. I make one sample of each accessory, headpiece or trim that I want them to do. They follow the pattern and take pride in "their costume work" when they see it on stage. I could not do complete costuming without them. To show my appreciation, I acknowledge them in the recital program and give them a studio credit to use towards tuition in the Fall.
Have your student's costume name labels ready. Label each bag as you check the costumes in. Try each costume on as soon as possible, do not wait! Costume companies have deadlines for exchanges. I have a great "costume rack pulley system" in the ceiling of my studio that allows us to hang up the majority of the costumes. The costume bag, used for accessories, is also kept on the hanger. We try to keep all the costumes for each student on one hanger if possible. If you are creative when you hang them, you will have room to do that. Be sure to hang all costumes with tutus and skirts upside down so they stay full and fluffy.
If alterations are needed...have someone do them. Include the possible cost for this service in your original costume price. Never have individual student's moms alter or make costumes or costume parts. If you have a mom that is a seamstress, have her do all of the garments, then all the costumes will be the same.
As the accessories are ready, pack them in the labeled costume bag along with tights, shoe laces, cuffs, chokers or whatever you have chosen to complete the costume. Keep all hats. I never give out hats until after the performance. In years past, when I did give them their hat, far too many of them failed to bring the hat on show day. I heard every excuse in the book from..."The dog ate it" to "Oh! It's on the lampshade in the living room at home". I learned the hard way to keep the hats. We transport them to the auditorium and the child takes it home after the show. A failsafe method for sure.
March - The following signs are posted on the studio bulletin board for parents to read: Required Hair Styles for each routine; the supplies needed and How To Apply Proper Stage Make Up; correct Grooming and No Jewelry reminders. Parents are encouraged to ask questions if they are unsure of anything that is a costume MUST.
April or May - I use the studio Recital Photo Session as my personal Dress Rehearsal & Preview for all costumes. I have imagined complete costumes in my mind but have only seen them unadorned when tried on in class. Now at Photo Sessions I get to see them complete with make up, hair style, accessories and props before they hit the stage. This is very import-ant for me. If something does not look finished or needs more or has too much...I want to know before we are at the Auditorium for Dress Rehearsal. Then it is too late to make changes. I want to make any necessary adjustments way in advance and not have a last minute push the day before the performance.
Before adopting the "complete costume" procedure, believe me I had my share of nightmares. Students would come to photos and performance with no tights or the tights they bought were the wrong color. Regardless of how many lists I used to post, they would not have shoe laces, gloves, headpieces or trunks. Now they have no excuse, they get everything in one bag on one hanger. All they have to do is bring it with them.
Through trial and error, years of nightmares have become dream days for me. It can happen for you too. Yes, it is a tremendous amount of work, planning and organization. It takes hours to complete all the ordering, sorting and packing you must do, but it is well worth it. All your hard effort will pay off. Each and every dancer will be "cookie cutter perfection" from head to toe. Their faces will radiate smiles as they perform in perfect precision. Your dream of having your own line of miniature Rockettes will become a reality. Plaudits to all!