Costumes for Performances

Costume Information

Our Costume Director works closely with our Artistic Director to acquire costumes that are unique to the various regions of dance.

We thank Sherri for beautifully curating, organizing, building, and assigning our costumes. We have been able to design and purchase embroidered costumes directly from artisans in Ukraine. The money earned from our casino and fundraisers help. 

Tips for avoiding costume malfunctions

• Please iron or steam costumes before performances

• Building a costume prep bag with large and small bobby pins, hair nets, clear hockey tape, safety pins, hair elastics and extra socks (white lace or black depending on costume)  

• Students need to come to performances with their costumes secured (taped and pinned straight and similar lengths to their classmates)

• Try on costumes pieces prior to the first performance.  If it needs a repair that you can manage, go for it. We suggest using a lighter to clean up frayed ribbons (be quick with the flame, it doesn't take much). You have Sherri's permission to move buttons. If anything needs major attention, please email Sherri at costumedirector@stbasilsdance.ca
  
  
• We do our best to hand out size-appropriate pieces. These are shared costumes and we line the kids and costumes up to find a good fit
• ULAS does not require families to purchase or make their own costumes and we hope to keep it that way with your cooperation

  The $200 costume deposit cheques are returned to each family at the costume return date when:

  1. Sherri inspects your costumes for proper laundering
  2. Costumes are in good condition (at the discretion of our board members) 
     
     
     

Specific Costume Information

• Girls hair should be in 2 french braids (tucked in and secured at the back) covered with a hairnet. Use bobby pins to secure headpieces
• If hair is short, try parting down the middle with two low pony tails, or a low bun. Please braid in any bangs or hair spray them back. French braid tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzddEM0u1xA
• Make-up helps to prevent our features from being "washed out" by harsh stage lights, but do what you are comfortable with
• Ends must be fastened at the base with bobby pins or ribbons. If you need help, Sherri would love to teach you
• A hairnet is needed to keep the frizzies down
• Many of the girls' blouses are ¾ sleeves - these need to be clear-hockey-taped at the elbow.
• No jewelry. Pieces of band-aids must cover earrings if you can't remove them
• Limit nail polish to neutral colour.

• Footwear:
  Kupalo	Girls: Mondor tights to match skin tone, black Paris teaching shoes, red boots Boy: black socks, black slippers, black boots
  Zirka	Mondor tights to match skin tone, black warm-up slippers, red boots
  Jr. Kupalo	Girls: red tights, red slippers, red boots, black Paris teaching shoes Boys: black socks, black Oxford slippers
  Kvitky, Rosa	Girls: white socks, red ballet slippers Boys: black socks and black ballet slippers
  Kalyna, Vesna	Girls: Mondor tights to match skin tone, red ballet slippers Boys: black socks, black ballet slippers/oxfords

  Headpieces 

  Headpieces MUST be fastened with bobby pins. For ribbons with flowers, the flower goes over the dancer's LEFT ear. If the headpiece has a clear elastic that is too long, feel free to shorten it with a small knot off to the side. 

  Please iron or steam them before our performance. 

  Make-up is intended to brighten up the face under the stage lights. Feel free to use what you feel comfortable with. Kupalo typically uses a maroon/wine-coloured eye-shadow and red lipstick. 

Boys

• Boys' waists need to be hockey taped, because if someone accidentally steps on their pants...catastrophe. Tape them on and then tie the poyas (belt). Pin the belt to keep it fastened to the pants or back of shirt.
• Tutorial for tying the poyas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Ja0_ojbvI 
• We cannot stress enough that ALL costume pieces must be WELL-FASTENED. Pins work, but we highly recommend clear hockey tape. Boys need their waists fully taped (over the tucked in shirt, under their poyas), wrists, and ankles if they’re long and baggy enough to cover their feet.
• All boys will wear black socks with black slippers and keep their hair neat and out of their eyes.