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Ballet Costume Ideas

An innovative yet understated costume enhances the graceful form of a ballerina while echoing the theme of the story and emotion of the music. The perfect costume creates visual interest in subtle ways. Costumes should be crafted so they flow with the dancer and frame her body with elegance. Nature, history and myth can inspire creative costumes.
  1. Rose Petal Buds

    • A blossoming rose bud can inspire a beautiful image for a ballet costume.

      Rose petals growing up and slightly outward from the bud are the inspiration for a costume. The skirt of the costume is a long, flowing handkerchief style of soft greens on the bottom with outer layers of darker green coming up from the waist. The body and neckline of the costume should resemble the large petals of a rose pointing upward and enveloping the neck. Small silk rose buds and baby's breath threaded through the dancer's hair finish the costume.

    Butterfly

    • Model a costume on a delicate butterfly.

      A delicate butterfly is a lovely theme for a ballet costume. A tulle skirt is the base for the butterfly to sit upon; use soft brown tulle to resemble a branch. The colors and pattern of butterfly wings can be airbrushed onto the dancer's leotard. Soft fabric flowing from the shoulders mimics wings to complete the costume.

    Angel Fairy

    • The airy imagery of an angel fairy lends itself to ballet.

      Soft and celestial, an angel-inspired fairy costume brings the purity of white to the stage. A flowing tie-on skirt of sheer white fabric wraps around a form-fitting white, thin-strapped leotard. Wire-sculpted fairy wings are attached to the back of the costume and adorned with pearls, crystals and beads that shimmer in the lights as the dancer moves across the floor.

    Greek Goddess

    • The beauty of a Greek Goddess can be inspiration for a costume.

      The ancient Greek goddesses wrapped themselves in the finest linens and embellished their wardrobes with gold thread. The Greek goddess ballet costume has a long, straight skirt that is kept flowing with wide-cut strips of fabric. An empire waistline is decorated with gold thread. The shoulder fabric should be gathered and topped with delicate gold leaves, which also encircle the ballerina's head.

Ballet

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