Inside the Creation of an Iconic Tutu

November 28, 2001

Sometimes I wish I were best friends with all the world’s ballet costume designers and wardrobe supervisors. They have such fascinating perspectives on ballet history and the dancing body, and they’re gifted artists in their own right. Plus—at least according to the recent spate of behind-the-scenes videos that investigate ballet costume shops—they all seem to be really cool people.

Ballet West performed The Firebird last fall, and University of Utah student Brent Rowland recently released a short film documenting the creation of the title character’s elaborate tutu. The star of the video is BW costume production director David Heuvel, who has worked with the likes of Margot Fonteyn, Natalia Makarova and Violette Verdy. His insightful description of the process of construction, and of his goals as a costume designer—”the costume has to move with the artist, breathe with the artist”—make for compelling viewing. And the tutu itself is gorgeous, of course.

What better way to celebrate #tututuesday? Take a look!