Costume Design for Origins Dance Festival

For three consecutive years, I collaborated with Smikle Dance Studio in Hove, creating costumes for Origins Dance Festival, the studio’s annual showcase at The Old Market Theatre.

Origins is a major highlight in the studio calendar, bringing together dancers of all ages - from younger children’s groups to senior performance companies and graduates moving on to further training and touring work. Each year, I created costumes for approximately 120 dancers, responding to a wide range of choreographies, music, movement styles, storylines and emotional themes.

Because the creative process at Smikle Dance is highly collaborative, the costume work varied greatly from piece to piece. I often worked closely with Lee Smikle, the choreographers and the dancers themselves, with children sometimes contributing to the brainstorming and design process. The costumes grew out of the movement, meaning and atmosphere of each work.

My role covered the full costume journey - from concept, sourcing and making to fittings, adaptations and final stage presentation. It was a demanding and deeply rewarding process, combining creative interpretation, practical problem-solving and an emotional response to the choreography and the dancers bringing it to life.

For behind-the-scenes images and tech rehearsals highlights, visit my Origins highlights on Instagram.