FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Renee’s The Snow Queen
(click images to to enlarge)
Other Credits
Model: Lauren Chastain, Photographer: Randall Hobbet
Outline the story …
The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman. The story is of a young girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a battle against a Mouse King. After the Nutcracker wins the battle with the help of Clara, the Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara to the Land of Snow, where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes and the Snow Queen and King.
I wanted my Snow Queen to look like an actual snowflake on stage, so she's white and has a snowflake shape with icy looking accents and plenty of sparkly crystals. I was quite inspired by the Boston Ballet Snow Queen that has a similar shape and used the same painting technique.
I created this costume while attending a class by the late Travis Halsey and I will be forever grateful that I was able to study under him. He pushed me to take risks and make the whole costume more interesting with lots of textures.
Outline the construction…
The bodice of the costume is a coutil flatlining with an off white upholstery fabric as the fashion layer. The bodice has 9 panels and is boned in the center of each panel with spiral steel boning. The front panels were all bagged at the top separately with mesh before sewing them together to create the icicle shape. The top of the bodice has a stretch mesh insert that allows it to fit better on multiple dancers and stretch when they move.
The bodice has accents in blue and white silk dupioni, and silver foil that were heat bonded and then appliquéd. On top of the fabric accents, white beaded lace was stitched on. I covered the back of the lace with a glue mixture so that it could be cut into small pieces without losing beads. I then used E6000 and added Swarovski flat back crystals in various sizes.
The skirt is a traditional ballet tutu with a panty made of power mesh with 12 layers of nylon net. The top 2 layers were cut in a snowflake shape before they were gathered and sewn on. The third layer was made of the nylon net that was cut in the snowflake shape, then fishing line was serged onto the outer edge under silver thread. It was then roll pleated in random directions to create the swirls. Silver paint was used on the edge and snowflake sequins were applied to the underside before adding rhinestones.
Beautiful!
This is a lovely snow queen. I love the way you have brought the fluffiness of snow to it. The swirling fishline edge is brilliant. The added frill layers of lace and silver on the bodice are really lovely and give a uniqueness to it. Great concept executed expertly! Well done!
She really does look like a snowflake, well done! I love the silver snowflakes on the bottom surface of the tutu, I can imagine them sparkling whenever she bends over.
Lovely pictures! And the sparkles really put a smile on my face, great job♡
It’s so poetic. Job well done!!!
Absolutely stunning. And I love how you went the ballet costume route to change things up. I adore the details in your skirt in balance w/ the bodice. It’s gorgeous!
This really looks like a snowflake. Very lovely!
I love the idea to make the shape of the tutu into a snowflake, so creative, effective and beautifully executed, well done!