Costume Design for Stage Performances

Planning and designing the costumes for the Iowa State University 4-H Youth Development Nutcracker + STEM performance is a lengthy process that begins well before the December performance each year.

In addition to ensuring all costumes are ready when the curtain raises, the head costumer for this production must take several criteria into account including the variety of ages, heights and sizes of dancers, the dancer movements, how the costumes will accommodate those movements, how the materials will look on stage and represent the ballet storytelling, and of course the costs restrictions.

Video

Ames

Iowa Core Standard

MS-ETS1-1

Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions

Driving Question

What must be considered to successfully design a costume for a stage performance?

Probing Questions

What constraints did the costumer have to consider when designing costumes for this performance?
How might she have prioritized the needs of the costumes? How would you prioritize them?
How do costumes reflect the characters in a performance and help tell a story?

Classroom Suggestions

Students could:

Complete the Iowa State University 4-H Nutcracker + STEM “Nutcracker Costume Challenge” to create a costume for one of The Nutcracker Ballet characters/dancers in the time given.
Brainstorm a list of constraints (ie cost, safety, appearance, etc) that must be considered for designing a costume. Consider how they would prioritize those constraints.
Attend a local performance or a recording of a performance and notice how the costumes reflect the storytelling. Visit with the costumer or production tech responsible for the designing the costumes.

Resources

Iowa State University 4-H | Nutcracker + STEM: Nutcracker Costume Challenge: This lesson plan challenges students to create a costume for one of The Nutcracker Ballet characters/dancers in the time given.
Iowa State Extension | Awardrobe Clothing Event: 4-H members in grades 9-12 interested in showcasing apparel design and production knowledge share their understanding and use of design elements and principles within one of four classes.
PBS LearningMedia | STEAM on Stage & Screen: This collection gives a unique look at the costume creation process through a STEAM lens, featuring costume artisans as they showcase how their work fits into the STEAM model and finding career pathways into the costume industry.
PBS LearningMedia | Me, Dorothy and the People Behind the Curtain: The video clips and other resources featured in this collection can be used to explore the behind-the-curtain careers that make a stage production possible, including costume design.
PBS LearningMedia | KQED: Engineering For Good: In this NGSS-aligned unit, students use the engineering design process to define a problem, brainstorm solutions, develop prototypes and iterate on their designs. The project culminates with students producing videos about their solutions to share with the community.

Contributors

Media produced by Iowa PBS in partnership with Iowa 4-H Youth Development and Stephens Auditorium.