Kelsey Vidic
Kelsey is the Costume Shop Manager and Costume Designer for the Dance Department at CSULB. Please find more information on her website: kelseyvidic.com
- MFA in Costume Design from the University of Texas
- BA in Theatre from Florida State University
Other Training
- The Creative Gesture, Designing for Dance
- Costume Design Dance Intensive
- Led by: Stine Sjögren and Liz Vandal
- Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff, Canada
- Gomez-Gracia, London
- Fashion Intern under the direction of Patricia Gomez-Gracia
- London, UK
- Stitching/Wardrobe Apprentice, Santa Fe Opera
- Apprentice for two summer sessions in the Costume Shop
- Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe, NM
- Adrift, an installation
- MFA Thesis by Kelsey Vidic
- Museum of Human Achievement, Austin, TX
- Be Real
- Conceived and Directed by: Yago de Quay
- Costume Design: Kelsey Vidic
- Produced by Intel Corporation
- Consumer Electronics Showcase, Las Vegas, NV
- Soft Matter
- Independent Feature Film
- Directed by: Jim Hickcox
- Costume Design: Kelsey Vidic
- Austin, TX
- Not Every Mountain
- Directed by: Thomas Graves
- Rude Mechanicals
- Set Design: Thomas Graves, Kelsey Vidic
- Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN
- Madama Butterfly
- Costume Design: Susan Mickey
- Associate Costume Designer: Kelsey Vidic
- Opera på Skäret, Kopparberg, Sweden
A Costume Designer is the collaborator that visually communicates a story, feeling or idea through the use of textile, shape, color, line, texture and movement.
The designer begins by meetings with the choreographer and other collaborators (lighting designer, scenic designer, technical director, etc.) After the first meeting, the Costume Designer will do research (visual and/or textual), go to fabric stores for swatches (small pieces of fabric), do sketches of the dancers in costume and finally generate a costume rendering (sketched and colored drawing of the dancer with costume) for approval.
The Costume Shop takes this drawn rendering and brings it into real life! Costumes can either be built, pulled or bought. No matter where they come from, they all go through a process of fittings to the dancer and alterations to change the costume to be as close to the rendering as possible.
Throughout this production process, the designer communicates with the costume shop, choreographer, dancers and fellow collaborators to stay up to date with any changes to choreography or other surprises that can happen along the way. This process is a balance of structure and fluidity in order to produce the best costume for the final performance.
It is very special to have a Costume Shop specifically for the dance program as most Universities have to share their shop with other departments on the campus. We do not support any other productions beyond the five dance concerts (no theatre, opera, etc.). Always feel free to come visit the shop for any questions or ideas, we are here to serve you!
COSTUME STOCK
There is an expansive costume stock with over 20 years of beautifully made costumes in existence at CSULB. This stock is available to rent from (*restrictions apply). As a student enrolled the university you can rent an item for free plus the cost for cleaning the costumes, either by washing machine or dry cleaning.
COSTUME CLASSES/EDUCATION
There are two classes you can take:
- Introduction to Dance Production: students will learn the backstage jobs that bring a production together including stage crew, lighting, sound and wardrobe.
- Costume Design for Dancers: students learn the process or a costume designer and basic sewing skills.
Opportunities to work in the Costume Shop:
- Costume Construction Crew: students will work in the costume shop, sewing garments that will go into dance performances.
- Costume Archive Crew: students will learn how to digitally archive costumes and repair the costumes stored in our stock. This is great if you have never sewn before but are very interested in learning and advancing into the Construction Crew.
The Dance Costume Shop at CSULB is committed to creating a space that is inclusive to all students, including BIPOC, LGBTIAQ+ and students with a disability.
COSTUME PROCESS:
You will be provided at least one costume per concert (at no extra fee or cost to you). The shop manager will reach out, via your CSULB student email, for a time slot to take your measurements and to get to know you! This will take no more than 15 minutes. Following the measurements, the shop manager will reach out again for one to two costume fittings. Fittings typically last between 20-30 minutes. There will be someone present throughout the whole process (from measurements to final show) to assist you in any costuming needs as they come up, please don’t hesitate to ask.
FITTING PROCESS
- Please respond to your CSULB student email in a timely manner (within 48 hours of receiving the email).
- If you are going to be late or need to reschedule, please let the shop know. We can work with you if something unexpected comes up or if you are dealing with a difficult situation. Communication is key.
- There will be between one-three people present in a fitting. This includes the Shop Manager, Costume Designer and Costume Technician.
- During the fitting or measurement session, a member of the costume staff will need to adjust clothing or place objects (i.e., measuring tapes, safety pins) on and near your body. We will always ask consent and will always honor the dancer’s choice in these situations.
- Please let us know if you need breaks during the fitting, they usually last between 20-30 minutes.
- We will be using sharp objects (safety pins, scissors, etc.) near your body to adjust the clothing.
- Let us know if a costume is uncomfortable or isn’t working for your movement. We want to know that! Try your most extreme movements from the choreography in the fitting.
DRESS REHEARSALS AND CONCERT:
- Each performer is responsible for his/her own make-up, makeup removers and hair supplies/products. If you need assistance with this or don’t have your own supplies, feel free to contact the shop manager and we can assist you.
- Wear appropriate underwear as discussed in the fittings.
- If you don’t have the proper undergarments or have any questions on this, please talk to the Costume Designer or Shop Manager or ask during a fitting.
- No eating, drinking, or smoking in costume. Water is always ok.
- There is a wardrobe crew assigned to assist you during every show. They will help you keep track of your costume, do the laundry, help in quick changes and can assist you with any questions you have.
- If your costume malfunctions, you are responsible to write down what happened, don’t worry it happens all the time! Repair notes need to be written on the Costume Notes paper posted on the back of the dressing room door. You are welcome to notify a wardrobe person as well.
- Laundry should be placed in the laundry baskets in the dressing rooms. We will only wash the items you place in the basket. In special cases, some costume items cannot be washed, but we will notify you if your costume falls in this category.
- Hang your costumes neatly on the rack at the end of the evening just as you found it, one piece per hanger. Clean up your dressing room space after each dress rehearsal and performance.
The Costume Shop is here to serve the stories and ideas being presented on stage. We care deeply about how you feel and what you need in a specific costume, so do not hesitate to ask. We are here to support you.
Actions we are committed to taking as a Costume Shop.
ACTIONS:
*if any of these actions are not met, or you notice we have missed something to accommodate you, please contact the Costume Shop Manager (kelsey.vidic@csulb.edu)
- We believe that all bodies of every variety are beautiful. We take time and care to design and make/alter costumes that fit your individual body type.
- We recognize that skin tones are many different shades.
- We are committed to finding the best skin tone shade, with the performer's approval, for any costume that is attempting to be the color of your skin.
- We are committed to labeling and categorizing the costume stock and materials in a way that is inclusive and denies stereotypes, racism, gender assumption, or culturally inappropriate terms.
- We acknowledge that every person with a disability requires different accommodations. We are committed to adapting our costume shop to any student that would like to work in the shop or is using the space for fittings or classes.
- With every new dancer that is being fitted in the shop, we ask you fill out a “Memo of Understanding” to familiarize us with your preferred name, pronouns, and body comfortability.
- We acknowledge that there are different products and increased time and costs needed to achieve hairstyles for Black students. The Shop Manager and Designer will assist in finding a style that works best with that specific dancer.
- The Shop Manager will be attentive during fittings and dress rehearsals to recognize and point out to the Designer (Lighting or Costume) if a certain color choice is working against or not in favor with the color of the dancer’s skin.
*If you do not feel comfortable talking to the Costume Shop Manager about your needs or how the Costume Shop has not met them, here are alternative resources to contact:
- Affinity A.I.D.E Student Group, csulbdanceaffinity@gmail.com
- Dance Collaborative Student Group, csulbdancecollaborative@gmail.com
- Betsy Cooper, Chair of the Dance Department, betsy.cooper@csulb.edu
- File a Complaint with Equity and Diversity, CSULB, /equity-diversity
