My name is Hope Hagen, and I am a
current junior working on my B.S. in Dance Arts Administration. In addition to
my studies, I also have a job working in the Butler Ballet Costume Shop. I
volunteered extensively in the costume shop my freshman and sophomore year, and
learned an incredible amount about costuming from our wonderful costumer
Kathleen Egan (Kegan). At the beginning of this academic year the chair of the
department, Larry Attaway, told me that they were going to hire me as Kegan’s
assistant. This came as a very pleasant surprise. I now help with just about
everything that goes on in the shop from costume fittings, to alterations,
costume construction, beading, making headpieces, and some design.
Some of the
highlights of things I have made include: a romantic tutu which I made in
costuming class, I beaded the skirts and bodices of the prologue fairy tutus
for our production of Sleeping Beauty last year, I redesigned and embellished
the Russian headpieces for Nutcracker this past year, and I completed all the
alterations for Snow Corps and Flower Corps. I help out in lots of small ways
too such as sewing on buttons, adding hooks and bars, putting together pieces
of bodices, and hemming skirts.
Through all
this experience I also learned how to make leotards and I now have my own
business making and selling custom leotards for my fellow dancers. This is
something I plan to continue after graduation to help make some money on the
side for myself. Hopefully costuming in general will be something I can pursue
further in my future as I really do enjoy it but dancing is my primary goal
after graduation.
While
Butler’s dance program is incredible and prepares us well for the professional
world, it has so much more to offer than just the dancing aspect if you use
your resources. I would highly encourage any dancer to pursue another creative
outlet, as it will only help them in the long run. Having these extra skills
will make them more marketable as a dancer and could help secure a job.
| This article was written by Hope Hagen, a member of the class of 2017. Here she is with Kathleen Egan, Butler Ballet's very own costumer. |
