Seminar & Workshop Descriptions

We teach a very wide variety of costuming seminars, mini-seminars, and workshops. The descriptions below are for our current (2012) seminars.

From time to time, we may alter the format, duration, and content of our 'standard' seminars to fit a particular venue or timeframe.

We are always open to suggestions for new topics, content changes, new locations, different times of year, etc, etc. Feel free to email, write, or call us with your ideas.

Last Update: April 2, 2012  

Changes!  -  New Venues!  -  New Classes!  -  Improvements!  -  New Instructors!
For 2012, we've again made several very exciting additions and changes. We've added several new classes and workshops, we've made improvements to many others,
and we've added sessions in new places!

For 2012, we are offering Seminar Sessions in:
June 2012 - San Mateo, CA, USA (San Francisco area, West-Coast USA),
Presented in conjunction with Peninsula Ballet Theatre
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July 2012 - Charlotte, NC, USA (Mid-Atlantic USA)
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August 2012 - New York City, NY, USA (Northeast USA),
Presented in conjunction with The Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet

And we are very excited to have so many talented and varied designers and costumers joining us in Charlotte this year! Some you've met before (if you're a 'regular'), and some will be new - but all will really impress and challenge you! Joining Claudia this year are: Mr. Travis Halsey currently of The Joffrey Ballet Costume Shop, Mr. Jeremy Barney currently of the University of Arizona Costume Shop, Ms. Cheryl Beasley currently freelancing from California, Ms. Jessi Alford currently of Tutu.Com, Ms. Betsy Blackmore currently of Tutu.Com, Ms. Carole Klinko currently freelancing from the Turqs and Caicos Islands, and Ms. Kellie Sheehan of the New York City Ballet Costume Shop.

These seminars continue to provide the most complete 'top to bottom' instruction we've ever offered!

***   Detailed Class Options   ***
There are just way too many possible option choices for us to list them all on the Description Details page for each class - colors, sizes, patterns, etc. Every class that needs you to make choices has it's own separate Options Selection Form.

You can find the Options Forms by going to the Seminar Registration Page, and selecting the Seminar Session you are interested in. This will take you to the Registration Checklist for that Seminar Session, with a complete list of all the required (and detailed) Options Forms.

Important! About Our Pattern and Garment Sizes
Our Women's pattern and garment sizing is Children's sizes to Jr. Miss - in other words, 'Dancer Sizing'. We do not have patterns for larger women. Our patterns are not designed for, and will not readily adapt to, a non-dancer adult full-size-woman body-type.

Children's Costuming?
If you mean 'catalog' or 'halloween' costumes, NO we do not offer classes in 'crafts-type' or 'hobbyist' costuming. However, many of our classes offer children's sizing, and all our techniques are readily adaptable to the pre-teen and younger dancer.

Our 'Classical Performance Tutu' and 'Bodice Construction' classes offer children's and Jr. Miss sized patterns, our 'Jeweled Tiaras' class is not size-specific, and our 'decorating' type classes provide instruction suitable for any age group.

About Measurements - 'Standard Size' or 'Custom Fit'?
For all of our garment construction seminars (tutus, bodices, dresses, tunics, etc.), you must choose a 'standard' size (Women's Petite, Men's 38, Child's 10/12, etc). We provide an 'Options Selection' form for each seminar where you can specify the garment size. In general, our standard sizes will work very well for any project you may be working on or any dancer you are trying to fit. You MUST choose your size when you register, or we will automatically provide a size for you, typically Medium Adult.

If you are constructing a garment to 'custom fit' a particular dancer, you will still need to choose the 'standard size' that most closely fits your dancer. For 'custom sizing', you will need to take specific measurements on your dancer, and we provide an optional form and instructions during registration. Bring those measurements with you to class, and learn how to adjust and tweak the 'standard' pattern to fit your dancer.

For our 'standard' size charts, see: 'Standard' Size Charts
For our Women's Measurements Forms, see: Women's 'Custom' Measurements Form

Decorating Classes with Hot-Fix Rhinestones
For all 'decorating' type courses that include the use of Hot-Fix rhinestones, you must supply your own Hot-Fix applicator. We highly recommend either the Crystal Crafter® or the Professional Touch®, both from Kandi Corp. (although Kandi's Hot Fixer® is very good, it's so fast and so high-heat that you must be very careful not to burn holes in the delicate fabrics we use). If you don't have one yet, give us a call to order - we'll have it waiting for you at the seminar (or we can ship it to you in advance if preferred).

'On-Hand' Fabric, Trims, Rhinestones, Notions, etc.
Many of you may not realize just how 'top to bottom' our inventory really is. We typically have a lot of stock on-hand at our Charlotte seminars, to help with emergencies, your future projects, and stuff you just didn't know you needed or wanted. So in general, (in Charlotte) we will have available for you to see, touch, and purchase a fairly large selection of different fabrics and trims and rhinestones and notions and books and patterns and specialty items and a whole lot more.

For our seminars outside of Charlotte, we usually have samples and small quantities of selected items available on-site. For those of you who are used to leaving extra room in your luggage to carry lots of stuff home, we're sorry, but time, personnel, and cost constraints mean we can't offer 'on-site' shopping at our 'remote' seminars.

Tip for Schools, Companies, and Costumers
The costumes and costume items created in our seminars will be very high-quality, and worth quite a lot of money! The skills the costumer learns will be re-useable time and again, for a great many more costumes and costume items, for years to come. The techniques we teach are production-quality, and the costumes and accessories created in our seminars are typically stage-ready. As a costumer, you decide whether to donate, rent, or sell your creation to your dance school or company.

Several schools and companies have funded all or part of their costumer's expenses in trade for the items created, or in trade for future creations. The funding of these expenses can be often subsidized with grants from federal, state, or local arts organizations. And, the 'payback' to the school or company will far exceed the initial outlay in terms of time or money!

Sewing Machine Rentals
For the Charlotte seminars only, we typically have a few machines available for rent! Please call or email for details. These are 'first-come, first-served' - so reserve early! Preference will be given to those coming in from outside the USA. Keep in mind, it's still best to bring your own, since an unfamiliar machine will slow you down. And if you're driving in, definitely bring your own!

***   Detailed Class Options   ***
There are just way too many possible option choices for us to list them all on the Description Details page for each class - colors, sizes, patterns, etc. Every class that needs you to make choices has it's own separate Options Selection Form.

You can find the Options Forms by going to the Seminar Registration Page, and selecting the Seminar Session you are interested in. This will take you to the Registration Checklist for that Seminar Session, with a complete list of all the required (and detailed) Options Forms.

Topics will include pricing your designs, design ethics, business ethics, advertising, developing a following, word-of-mouth, the importance of excellent customer service, 'ballet appropriateness' in design and color selections, and much more.

Bring your questions or bring your experiences - the format is informal and the floor is open!

This session itself is free to anyone registering for any of our seminars. It is available to anyone else wishing to attend for a nominal fee.

The individual 'Session Details' page will provide specific information as to date and time.

This session is free to anyone registering for any of our seminars. It is available to anyone else wishing to attend for a nominal fee.

The individual 'Session Details' page will provide specific information as to date and time.

This session is free to anyone registering for any of our seminars. It is available to anyone else wishing to attend for a nominal fee.

The individual 'Session Details' page will provide specific information as to date and time.

This session is free to anyone registering for any of our seminars. It is available to anyone else wishing to attend for a nominal fee.

The individual 'Session Details' page will provide specific information as to date and time.

So OK, it's only a deli-dinner, not a 5-course feast, but for a small charge, we will cater deli-style 'boxed dinners' to these casual evenings. We'll provide you a selection to choose from, and you can pre-pay when you register.

Guided Shopping Trips - Charlotte, New York City, San Mateo
Grab a piece of our instructor's expertise and knowledge! During selected Seminar sessions, we try to make time for a half-day (or longer) trip to the 'local' garment district, and visit 1 or more of those 'secret' little places that can be so hard to find, and that we've spent years discovering.

We'll help you make contacts, find sources, get ideas, make purchases for tomorrow's workshop, or plan or purchase for future projects. These trips are 'free' (in some venues you may have to buy a cheap subway-token or bus-ticket). Of course, 'free' does not include what you may spend in some of these fabulous places!

The individual 'Session Details' pages will provide more specific information and dates.

Special Tours & Events - New York City, San Mateo
Sometimes, we are able to make arrangements for really cool excursions and field trips. In the past, we've toured the renowned costume shops of New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, visited backstage after a Dance Theatre of Harlem performance, and discovered that many of those incredible 'Las Vegas style' tiaras and headpieces were once designed and created at Diva Couture here in Charlotte. What we can arrange is different every year, and varies from location to location. The cost is always minimal, and often free.

The individual 'Session Details' pages will provide more specific information, dates, and prices.