On Saturday, Ohio State University's only ballet organization, Momentum Contemporary Ballet, brought a timeless tale to life through the magic of dance with their recent production of "Alice in Wonderland."
This enchanting ballet not only showcased the remarkable talents of its dancers but also featured stunning costume designs that played a pivotal role in transporting the audience into the whimsical universe of Lewis Carroll.
At the heart of this production was a vibrant interpretation of the classic story of Alice, a young girl who tumbles down a rabbit hole into an unknown fantasy world.
The show follows this story but unlike traditional ballets, Momentum’s "Alice in Wonderland" incorporated a blend of classical and contemporary dance, making it accessible to audiences of all ages.
What truly set this production apart were the imaginative and elaborate costumes designed by Momentum’s student executive board members.
According to Faith Bergeron, a third-year in animal sciences and one of the show’s performers and executive board members, the costume design for "Alice in Wonderland" was not merely about aesthetic appeal but about furthering the narrative and aligning with the intersection of dance and storytelling. Each costume was crafted to reflect the unique attributes of the Wonderland residents.
Bergeron, who played White Rabbit, said she was inspired by the phrase that the White Rabbit famously said, “I’m late. I’m late for a very important date,” saying she tried to act as frantic as possible throughout her performance.
The costume, Bergeron said, included the iconic cottontail and bunny ears which helped her get into character.
The cryptic Cheshire Cat’s attire featured the notorious purple tail and an explosion of colors and patterns while the Queen of Hearts was a standout. The costume, rich with regal reds and menacing black and adorned with a red accented tiara and black gloves that echoed her fierce and commanding personality.
Even the ensemble characters, such as the flowers and cards, were dressed in ways that complemented the main characters and enhanced the overall visual impact of the scenes.
When speaking about the dynamics between the costume and performance, Brickelle Rahmaan Bixler, a first-year in physics and one of the show’s lilac performers, said that each of the flower dancers’ costumes involved a different costume design.
“One of [the daisy costumes] involved a corset and a very tiny mini skirt and because of that it was a stark difference whereas [the lilac costume] was a long skirt that was more flowy,” Bixler said. “I thought it was nice to have the contrast between the long skirt and one that was a corset and the other [rose costumes] being all red with a red hairpiece, knee-length skirt and red leotard.”
Bixler said she found the floral hair pieces were a helpful reminder of her role in the play.
Creating such detailed and effective costumes was no small feat.
The design process involved extensive collaboration among the costume designers and choreographers, said Amanda McCrary, one of the Momentum executive board members. This ensured that each costume not only looked spectacular but also allowed the dancers the freedom of movement necessary to perform their complex routines.
McCrary, a second-year in molecular genetics, who was responsible for designing and choreographing the Cheshire Cat’s costume and dance, said it was important to have the personality of the character being portrayed match the personality of the performer and costume.
The intersection between choreography and costume design was a top priority in the play’s production, McCrary said.
“I wanted a long tail that she could actually dance with,” McCrary said about the Cheshire Cat costume. “[It] is my favorite piece because it’s one of those things where she can use it during the dance, it's long enough where she can interact with it.”
This ballet production was more than just a dance performance; it was a comprehensive artistic experience. The dedication to every detail, from the choreography and music to the stunning costumes, made the production a memorable one that resonated with many long after the curtain fell.
“The secret, Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make your heart smile, it's only then that you’ll find wonderland,” Bergeron recalled her parents saying to her when she joined the production. “We have found our wonderland together and the costumes help transform our passion of dance and convey it to the audience in a way that they were able to understand.”
Momentum's “Alice in Wonderland” exemplifies how costume design and choreography can come together to tell a story that is as enchanting as it is visually captivating. Through innovative choreography and striking costumes, audiences were invited to fall down the rabbit hole, experiencing a world where the only limit is one’s imagination.
