The primary focus of this course will be how movement informs the design of costume in performance. Students will work with diverse forms of music and sound. Exploring forms from classical ballet to street/hip hop, students will learn how they can be illuminated and interpreted through design, fabric, and the body in motion. This course will teach students how to look at dance in the studio, in performance, and on video/film. Students will attend rehearsals and observe dance classes. Students will engage in design sessions with choreographers to explore techniques of communication and collaboration in the design process. We will examine how an individual’s body can inform design. Design assignments include a wide range of projects for traditional and non-Western dance forms, as well as designs for a wide range of body types and abilities including disabled dancers. To immerse students in the history, methods, and sources of design, the course will feature visiting lecturers and visits to a research library and costume production facilities. On completion of this course, students will have produced a portfolio consisting of 4-6 design projects. Students who successfully complete this course may enroll in Costume Design 2.

The primary focus of this course will be how movement informs the design of costume in performance. Students will work with diverse forms of music and sound. Exploring forms from classical ballet to street/hip hop, students will learn how they can be illuminated and interpreted through design, fabric, and the body in motion. This course will teach students how to look at dance in the studio, in performance, and on video/film. Students will attend rehearsals and observe dance classes. Students will engage in design sessions with choreographers to explore techniques of communication and collaboration in the design process. We will examine how an individual’s body can inform design. Design assignments include a wide range of projects for traditional and non-Western dance forms, as well as designs for a wide range of body types and abilities including disabled dancers. To immerse students in the history, methods, and sources of design, the course will feature visiting lecturers and visits to a research library and costume production facilities. On completion of this course, students will have produced a portfolio consisting of 4-6 design projects. Students who successfully complete this course may enroll in Costume Design 2.