10 Professional Dancers You Didn’t Know Became Fashion Designers
As every dancer knows, it’s all in the details. From the way you hold your head, to the way you point (or don’t point) your toes, each movement and muscle choice is intentional. Your training has been centered on small stylistic elements for years.
So who better to transition into the fashion world, an environment driven by the details, than a professional dancer?
Dance studio owners, teachers and directors know all too well what goes into creating and executing a showstopping recital or performance, which is much like a runway show when the designer puts his or her work on stage for all to enjoy. Whether directing dance shows, or performing in them, dancers know what makes an audience pay attention.
Likewise, both fashion and dance involve an artistic vision and an urge to create and express. So is it really surprising that many dancers also become fashion designers? Once an artist, always an artist.
For these dancers, their artistic nature led them to begin creating clothes and costumes. While they once expressed themselves through pirouettes and leaps, they each express their own creativity now through fabrics, colors, textures and designs.
We introduced you to Brian Friedman and Judanna Lynn yesterday, here are two more inspiring dancers turned fashion designers.
DAY 2
Janie Taylor
Former New York City Ballet Principal Janie Taylor has made the successful transition from seraph of the spotlight to designer for the stage. Whereas she once originated roles in ballets choreographed by Peter Martins, Benjamin Millepied and Christopher Wheeldon, she now designs costumes for LA Dance Project and NYCB. Her styles use lines to create contrast, and even dancer colleagues are wearing Taylor-designed leotards on a daily basis. See some of her work at http://janie-taylor.com.
Reid Bartelme
Reid Bartelme is a freelance fashion and costume designer based in New York. Prior to designing, he danced for companies throughout North America, including BalletMet, Alberta Ballet, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Abraham In Motion and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. After receiving a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, he began designing for various choreographers and events. Companies that have danced in his garments include Parsons Dance Company, Buglisi Dance Company, Ballet X, ABT Studio Company, Miami City Ballet, Ballet Next, Malpaso Dance Company and New York City Ballet. He recently designed one for prima ballerina Gillian Murphy for a duet by James Whiteside. According to an interview he did with Time Out New York in 2012, he first started designing his own Halloween costumes. Check out his dance costumes at http://www.reidbartelme.com.
Stay tuned tomorrow!
Guest Contributor: Chelsea Thomas of Dance Informa
