Seminar & Workshop Descriptions

We teach a very wide variety of costuming seminars, mini-seminars, and workshops. The descriptions below are for the classes we offered in 2009.

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: July 25, 2009

We are currently working to set the 2010 schedule.
The descriptions below represent the various classes we offered in our 2009 sessions.
2010 locations, dates, and courses-offered will be announced as soon as possible.
We typically do not offer all classes at all locations.

Children's Costuming?
If you mean 'catalog' or 'halloween' costumes, no we don't 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', 'Advanced Project', 'Romantic Tutu', and 'Classical Rehearsal Tutu' classes offer children's pattern sizes. Our 'Bodice Construction' class offers both our Child's 6-Piece Bodice and our Child's 8-Piece Bodice patterns, our 'Empire Dresses' and 'Romantic Faerie Dresses' classes offer children's size options, 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, 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 each seminar, to help with emergencies, your future projects, and stuff you just didn't know you needed or wanted. So in general, 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.

Tip for Schools, Companies, and Costumers
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 often be 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! 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!

Join Claudia and special guests in an informal discussion of the dance costume business. Whether you're thinking about starting up or you're already in business, this round-table will be of benefit to you.

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 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' pages will provide specific information as to date and time.

Guided Shopping Trips
Grab a piece of Claudia's expertise and knowledge! During each Seminar session, 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' (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!

Special Tours & Events
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.

Yes, you can buy Claudia's time! So many of you have asked for this, we've finally decided to hold her captive for an extra day at the end of selected seminars.

So, if you have a project you need help with, or an idea you can't quite figure out how to realize, or any of a myriad of other costuming concerns, this is your opportunity to have Claudia's undivided attention, help, skills, knowledge, advice, and input.

Keep in mind - you can always talk to her in class, you can call her on the phone, you can mail her a note and pictures, and she reads her email several times a day.

This one-on-one time is for stuff that just can't be handled any other way. Maybe you're looking for a couple of simple and cheap ways to costume 16 very different faeries for 'Midsummer' and nothing's working out, or you're trying to costume for a jungle-themed jazz number and having trouble with fabrics, trims, concepts, and a 'blah' design. Or maybe you just want some individual coaching on double hand pleating or hand-tacking or anything else about making a tutu.

It's not cheap - pricing begins at $100.00 per hour (per person), with a minimum of 1 hour. (The pricing is usually 'per person', but if 2 of you are working on the same project just pay once.)

You MUST call (or email) Claudia and discuss with her the details of what you need or want, as well as time and cost, well in advance of the seminar.