For the Love of Dance

THE ARTS

By Shannon Allen

Kaylee Chisholm ’22 loves to dance. “Simply put, I dance because it brings me joy. I feel so grounded and connected with my mind and body when dancing,” she said. “It requires so much focus that there is no time to think about anything outside the studio. I love how dance can tell a story without words.”

While the motion tells a story, so does the tutu. Chisholm created the Snow Queen costume she wore in December’s The Nutcracker after attending a TutuSchools Costume Seminar in July 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Over six days, she took classes to learn the ins and outs of tutu costume design.

“Ballet costume design combines my two favorite things: dance and fashion design,” Chisholm said. FWCD Ballet Director Carrie Cheng recognized Chisholm’s passion and encouraged her to take the course. “I had never before created a costume for ballet,” Chisholm said. “The idea had always interested me, and when I had the opportunity, I went for it.”

Chisholm brought her design to life by crafting the Snow Queen tutu and bodice separately, over 50 hours. “The most tedious part of the process was hand pleating the layers of tulle,” she noted. “First, I cut and pleated all of the tulle, then created the panty section and basque. I then had to sew all 12 layers onto the panty. The bodice was much more familiar for me to sew and took less time.”

She used bengaline, tulle netting, Powernet, and satin for the construction. The materials for both the tutu and bodice cost around $300. According to Cheng, a tutu of this style could cost $200-$500 depending on how ornate.

Chisholm will follow her passion for design in college, attending Belmont University in Nashville. “I feel like making dance clothes is the most technical someone can get for fashion design. The garments must be comfortable, fit perfectly, and move as elegantly as the dancer,” Chisholm shared. “So much detail and precision are required to make a tutu and bodice that a dancer will feel comfortable in. This technical skill is a wonderfully helpful base to help learn other aspects of fashion design when it comes to everyday garment design. The beauty is in the details.”

For her Spring 2022 Capstone Project, Chisholm made a classical ballet tutu and bodice to wear in her final Upper School ballet recital.

Dancing since fourth grade, Chisholm began experiencing hip pain in seventh grade. She went to physical therapy for about a year and tried to push through the pain as she danced. In Summer 2017, Chisholm attended a five-week ballet intensive at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. “I pushed through my hip pain throughout the intensive,” she said. “When I got home, I knew it was time to do something about my hip.”

She learned she had a labral tear in her hip and had surgery to repair it. Chisholm was back to dancing in about two months. But the hip pain returned, worse than before. She saw a specialist who referred her to Dr. Daniel Sucato at Scottish Rite Hospital. “He found that I had hip dysplasia, which was causing tears and pain in my hip,” she said. “I had my second hip surgery, an RPAO [Right Periacetabular Osteotomy], in December 2018,” Chisholm said. “The doctors reconstructed my hip to correct the dysplasia. I stayed three nights at Scottish Rite. While the recovery was hard and painful, the whole experience was bearable thanks to the nurses and

doctors. They are the most wonderful people I have ever met. I was in a wheelchair, a walker, and eventually just crutches for about three months” (depicted below).

In April 2019, Chisholm was released to dance. “I have been feeling amazing since. Occasionally my hip will bother me, but it is very tolerable,” Chisholm noted. “I feel stronger than ever in ballet, and I’m beyond grateful for the support of my family, the doctors who helped me, and friends who all got me back to where I am today.

“I’m also so thankful for Mrs. Cheng, Ms. [Natalie] Bracken [’05], and Ms. [Gail] Corkery for everything they have taught me [in ballet] and my family for their endless support,” Chisholm continued. “I would have never kept dancing if it wasn’t for Mrs. Cheng. She has always been there, pushing me to be my best in ballet, and I admire her so much. She fueled my love for ballet.”

Kaylee Chisholm ’22