We spoke with Costume Director, Eddy Frank Fernandez and Wardrobe Supervisor, Norelis Dean about some fun facts to share with you about the Giselle costumes. These beautiful costumes will be on stage this weekend, Feb 10-13th at the new Steinmetz Hall!
The Wilis all wear romantic tutus made of a fabric called Tulle. About how much tulle is used for each costume?
The costumes have 4-5 layers of tulle, 5 yards (15 feet) each making it about 20-25 yards of fabric per skirt!
How many hours do you spend doing fittings?
It takes about 15-30 minutes per dancer depending on their character. Some costumes have a lot of pieces to it that each has to be fit!
About how many costumes are in the show?
Our full production of Giselle has about 122 total costumes. This version has around 77 being used on stage!
How many Wili costumes are there?
22 plus 1 for Giselle & 1 for Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis.
What kind of skirt are the Wili costumes?
The Wili costumes are called “romantic tutus.” These tutus fall a little below mid-shin to highlight the pointe work of the dancers. The tulle allows for the skirts to flow freely with movement, making them look like they are floating.
Do you use specific colors to represent certain characters?
Yes, we chose the dark burgundy colors for the Duke and Bathilda to give them a stronger personality. Giselle wears a light colored dress in the 1st act to portray her innocence. Wilis are in white to keep the ghostly look for the 2nd act.
