Top Three Tips for Costume Design Collaboration

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Have you ever had a vision for a new work or an idea for collaboration? Here are three tips as you find opportunities in Theatre and Dance to expand your work. Cherie Acosta

1. Find exciting projects that require collaborators.
Look for those opportunities which interest and excite you creatively, regardless of the framework you may be working under. If a concept in a class leads you to a new idea, go with it! Don’t be afraid to stretch yourself. All projects have a start. Often this is simply an idea or combination of ideas, which can lead to interesting and provocative work.

2. Find collaborators you want to work with. Cherie Acosta
Do you love someone’s work? Do they inspire you? Ask if they wish to collaborate and share your idea freely!  Often, we get innovative ideas in the arts and keep them to ourselves perhaps because the idea is not fully fleshed out, or maybe we fear judgment. Share your vision, get feedback and don’t be afraid of questions to test your concept or interpretation of ideas, as these are important and can lead you to re-think and expand your work. 

3. Do your research and explore!  Cherie Acosta
Preparation will bring your idea fully into fruition, particularly as a collaborator. Anticipate questions or unique concerns theatrically and have solutions or ideas to share. When working with Travis Prokop (Lamar) and Norm Barker (Johns Hopkins) on the interdisciplinary piece Beautiful Affliction, it was necessary to delve into the scientific images, explore textiles and print methods digitally, as well as create mock-ups for dancers to utilize as we explored movement and scale. Each step was important in the process and each step informed the final production.
 

 

Picture 1: Photo courtesy of CAMH/Ronald Jones - A moment from our Transitory Sound and Movement Collective performance of “An Ordinance of Discordance” at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Costume Design by Cherie Acosta.)

Picture 2: Costume design by Cherie Acosta in collaboration with choreographer Travis Prokop. Photo by Lynn Lane on behalf of LU Department of Theatre & Dance.

Picture 3: Costume design by Cherie Acosta in collaboration with choreographer Travis Prokop. Photo by Lynn Lane on behalf of LU Department of Theatre & Dance.