Retrieving Dance of the Past through Costume
Résumé
Reconstructions and re-enactments of historical dance, in most cases, cannot do without the “historically-looking” clothing. The kind of costume, its design, materials and construction often depend on the artistic vision of the creators, on historical sources and also on available financial resources.
My presentation will investigate what happens when the reconstruction of stage dance is completed with the reconstruction of the costume in all its material and structural aspects – giving it not only historical look, but historical materiality. Costume for dance on stage was a specific type of garment since the emergence of this performing arts form in the sixteenth century. It developed its proper rules, codes and functions; there were designers and makers who specialized in it.
I will first offer insights in how the costume corresponded to various dance genres during the seventeenth and eighteenth century, and present some of the ‘costume sources’ we can work with. Then, I will present cases of experimental re-creation of dance costumes, and what can be learned through this method of research. In what consists the specificity of dance costume? How the historically correct costume influences the physical posture and action of the performer? What is the effect of such costume on stage?