How to Dress Dancers: Costuming Techniques for Dance [Paperback]

Mary Kent Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999

Geared for costuming dancers, this book includes more than 400 line drawings that demonstrate how to make a costume from a sketch rather than a pattern. Detailed instructions for making classical and romantic tutus, bodices, blouses, costumes for men, tights, leotards and skirts are presented, along with designs for character, national, and period costumes. Directions for headdresses, props, decorations, and ornaments are also included.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Kent Harrison designed costumes for the London Ballet School and many other dance companies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Book Company (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871272083
• ISBN-13: 978-0871272089
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Dance > Ballet

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little inaccessible, but very helpful, September 24, 2000

By 

"tylerls" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Dress Dancers: Costuming Techniques for Dance (Paperback)

I bought this book looking for some help in making basic Classical and Romantic tutus. The book is dominated by illustrations, and the instructions could have been written a little more clearly -- but after re-reading them very carefully, I decided that all the information I wanted was actually there. It's just a little inaccessible.

The book describes how to make basic garments (tutus, leotards, etc.) without a pattern, and then has lots of illustrations to show how you might modify them for particular styles and dances. So, to get any use out of this book, you'll need to buy some cheap material, and draft your own patterns with the help of the book and perhaps a little trial and error. If you absolutely have to be provided with a proper pattern, you'll need to look elsewhere for it. Even so, the example illustrations may be helpful in adapting a basic costume to suit a particular dance, once you've obtained the basic pattern elsewhere.

The content of the book is just as old as I am -- first published in 1975 -- which is probably why Lycra (tm) isn't mentioned in the book at all! So if you're determined to use Lycra, you'll have to figure out for yourself what differences it will make to the design and construction.

Overall, this is a very good book which could really use a new revision to take account of new materials, and to make the text a little more accessible.

5.0 out of 5 stars just what i have been looking for -love it thank you, June 13, 2010

By 

Ann Grundy (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Dress Dancers: Costuming Techniques for Dance (A Dance horizons book) (Paperback)

best book i have found on making tu tuo's.haven't tried it yet but did read through it .think it's just what i have been looking for.thank you ann

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars How to dress dancers: how do you dress dancers?, June 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Dress Dancers: Costuming Techniques for Dance (Paperback)

I went to the library to get this book out when I needed to make costumes for my daughters dance recital. It was an amatuer production of Swan Lake; so I needed some help making the classical tutus. Unfortunately, the book hrdly helped at all. The pictures and/or instructions were very hard to understand, and Iam no oaf so I do understand a lot. But this? I didn't understand at all. They did have some very nice ideas for costumes, I thought.