Elizabeth Weiss Embraces the Chaos of Costume Creation for Oyo Dance Company’s Multicultural Holiday Show, One Light
By Rachel Nace, executive and artistic director of Oyo Dance Company
Elizabeth Weiss designs, constructs and coordinates costumes for Oyo Dance Company’s principal dancers and guest artists. She has been sewing for over 30 years and has a unique ability to make costumes that enhance the relationship between the dancers’ bodies and the choreography of the piece.
Rachel: How did you get started sewing? What were the first things you remember making?
Elizabeth: My mom taught me how to sew when I was very young. I remember sitting with her while she made things. The first thing I remember making completely on my own was a vest when I was probably 10 or so (it was the 80s and vests were a big thing). From there, I went on to do a lot of sewing projects with my 4H group, and made things for myself and for others. Once I aged out of 4H, I kept sewing on my own!
Rachel: When did you start creating dance costumes?
Elizabeth: I started creating dance costumes when Oyo Dance Company was born! I have had the privilege of costuming for Oyo since the beginning. I came to the role with a solid understanding of garment creation, but the demands for dancewear are completely different than for street clothing. Everything has to stretch, move, breathe and flow in ways that work with the dancer’s body and complement the artistry of the choreography. So I have grown as a costumer as Oyo has grown.
Rachel: What is your process for creating costumes for a specific piece?
Elizabeth: The first step is to talk with the choreographer about their vision for the piece. The costume can make or break a piece of work, so it’s important to make sure I understand what they are doing artistically. I usually get some basic information from the choreographer about what they are seeing in their head, and that information is often just a kind of “vibe” for what they want. Sometimes they have reference or inspiration photos. Then, I watch rehearsals to see what the movement in the piece is like. If there are places where dancers need to be on the floor, where there are lifts, if there are quick changes we need to accommodate, then those are all things I need to consider as I’m putting the pieces together.
From there, I look at fabric options and order swatches (small samples of fabric) to share with the choreographer and artistic director. I also begin working on finding or drafting patterns. At this stage of my career and my work with Oyo, I have a set of “base” patterns that I can modify and adapt to create virtually any look. If the design is completely new or if I’m not sure I like where we’re going, I make a mockup for someone to wear during rehearsal and see where we need to change things. Once we’re all happy with the direction, then I begin construction on the final pieces.
Rachel: What question do you get asked most often about your art, and how do you answer?
Elizabeth: The most common question is definitely, “How long did that take to make???” I do my best to answer accurately, though I don’t keep track of the hours. I think the most time-consuming piece I’ve ever done was a classical tutu, which had 13 layers of tulle, some of which I pleated by hand. I’d say that probably took about 60 hours? I don’t really know. It was a fun learning experience and I really enjoyed it. It does take time, but it’s a labor of love. I adore the work that Oyo does and I’m honored to be part of their creative team.
Rachel: What’s on your current playlist?
Elizabeth: I love a lot of different kinds of music, but right now I am really enjoying Brandi Carlile’s new album Returning to Myself. I was fortunate enough to be a teenager/young adult during a really great time for queer female musicians and I feel like I’ve grown up with Brandi, The Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge. I’ve really enjoyed hearing their music develop and deepen over the years, and I think this new album is my favorite of Brandi’s!
Rachel: What are some of your favorite things about Columbus?
Elizabeth: There is so much to love about Columbus! Our library system is definitely one of my favorite things. In our house we are “heavy users” of the library, lol! I also think our metro parks are top notch. I love taking my dogs to the park and enjoying some time in the woods. The fact that we have so many gorgeous places to do that in Columbus is very special!
See Elizabeth’s work at Oyo Dance Company’s production of One Light: A Multicultural Celebration of Unity, Nov. 21 -22 at Columbus Performing Arts Center or Dec. 12 at the Hilliard Civic Culture & Arts Center.
This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database and artist stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.