Designing for sydney goldston
March 27 at 12:26 PM, I received an urgent DM from my friend Sydney. “eli!!!! I have a question,” A message I should start charging people to state at this point. My creative collaborations had increased tenfold, since the beginning of the semester, which has made my DMS the newest hotspot.
This project was different though. It is one I have been waiting 2 years for. I first came across Sydney’s work during the dance majors end of the year saloon. I came for my partner at the time, who produced & choreographed a piece. I was eager to get into the dance scene as I grew up dancing 10 years of my life, but never got the technical training I had always desired. Syndey’s piece began, and I was hooked. Words can’t describe how one feels in the audience witnessing their artistry.
So two years later, I am the utmost honored to have been asked to collaborate as costume designer for Sydney’s end of the year piece.
We immediately organized a meeting, and the concept was one that I felt on a personal level which always helps when having to translate someone’s vision. The two vessels pictures represent two sides of the same person, Sydney. The inner and outer sides of them. Throughout the piece, the vessels mimic each other to different degrees and tempos while trying to find a balance of safe space and opportunity.
Texture, layers, draping materials, dark colors, mesh, and monochrome were initial ideas of the moodboard. We had our dress rehearsal, and played around with what could work and what was functional. This is my favorite part about designing. It’s the part that requires the most flexibility, and open-ness to change, and it is where teamwork is imperative.
The designs we came up with pre dress rehearsal. josua pictured left and kailah, right.
The designs we came up with post dress rehearsal.
Changes were made, and that is because less is more sometimes. Sydney’s note was that the knit arm warmers softened up the grungy look we were going for when it is added with the knit top. My note was of the tie that would smack Josua in the face while rehearsing. The tie embellishment was a symbiotic form of connection between the two vessels so finding another option was important. We both loved the flowyness of Kailah’s look and skirt over the pants look.
04/27/23. Final performance. 1:39/9:00 minutes.
These are the finished result. Kailah’s look stayed the same from dress rehearsal, and we added the ruffle neck piece to Josua’s look that was gifted to me by a former VCU senior fashion designer friend. There were two tears to my skirt and tan flowy top, but I would do it all over again. It just goes to show the beauty of designing for live performance. I even got nods and smiles of approval from the dance professor holder the camera. All in all, I enjoyed collaborating with Sydney and I am very proud of what we came up with. I so look forward to costume designing for dance in the future! We are already discussing plans to collaborate on their senior thesis :)