Costumes in Progress!

These last several weeks have involved lots of hunting down costumes for around 100 dancers, many of whom will wear more than one costume during the Christmas recital. While we have many costumes already "in stock" from previous performances, there are many specific things that we didn't have (like the animals in Noah's Ark!). It's fun to see some of the time and effort paying off as boxes and boxes of costumes arrive!

It's like Christmas before Christmas! The sparkly pink and purple costumes are for the "fish" in a dance depicting Creation...I'm personally especially excited about them!

While we have ordered about seven gazillion tops, overlays, and other costumes, some things we have to make ourselves...to get them just so! And cheaper! I mean, where are you going to find a lion's mane made of neon yellow tulle that will not scratch little girls' faces? Or a full length snake costume that you can actually dance in? So... with the help of my wonderful mom, sisters Katherine and Abi, and friends LeAnn, Miriam, and Ms. Wendy, we bought yards and yards of satin, ribbon, netting, broadcloth...and other little accessories.

And no, not everyone will be dancing as animals. But since we've never had people representing animals (other than lambs) before, those are the ones we have to specially buy and make this time around! Now, to assemble, organize, and sew everything...

When Anna "bequeathed" the costume closet and everything related to it to my sisters and me, I didn't really understand what all that meant...starting to really appreciate how much Anna has had on her plate the last 5 years of the King's Praise Ballet! Prayers are appreciated for creativity, minimal failure and problems, and maximum joy and energy for all of us as we tackle this huge task! To God be all the glory!