Jane Wood has been designing costumes for 30 years. Her hands have sewn, stitched and even painted the elaborate outfits seen on stage during Ballet VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 performances.

SheB次元官网网址檚 spent her last six weeks, working full time, designing the colourful and creative outfits that will be worn in the balletB次元官网网址檚 next performance, Alice in Wonderland.

Wood sat down with Black Press to discuss her work as she was putting the final touches on the Cheshire CatB次元官网网址檚 orange and purple tutu before the Tea for Tutu performance on Tuesday.

Attendees will be able to pick out their favourite characters from the English novel turned Disney classic during the performance on May 17 and 18, including Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, the White Rabbit and many more.

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Wood learned to sew from her mother and all throughout her schooling, eventually moving into the costume world when her daughter took up ballet.

B次元官网网址淥f course you get roped into doing the costumes if you know how to sew and it kind of grew from there,B次元官网网址� she says.

She says while some costumes can be tedious if thereB次元官网网址檚 multiples, there isnB次元官网网址檛 any outfit sheB次元官网网址檚 disliked creating.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always something different, itB次元官网网址檚 always a challenge and you get to make things that you wouldnB次元官网网址檛 otherwise make for any other reason,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 creative and itB次元官网网址檚 fun.B次元官网网址�

She says one of her favourite pieces to make is always the tutu, despite the fact that they usually take three or four days to make depending on how decorative the skirt is.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e always fun, but a lot of work.B次元官网网址�

Usually ideas take shape after a discussion with Paul Destrooper, Victoria BalletB次元官网网址檚 artistic director, but sometimes a piece of fabric will catch her eye.

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B次元官网网址淲hen I saw [the White RabbitB次元官网网址檚] fabric, I thought OK heB次元官网网址檚 going to be an Elizabethan bunny, and so thatB次元官网网址檚 what he turned into,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淪ometimes things kind of happen accidentally or they just evolve.B次元官网网址�

Adding to the creative challenge, the costumes have to be designed so the dancer wearing it can have complete freedom of movement.

B次元官网网址淔or menB次元官网网址檚 costumes, the sleeves will be constructed separately on a stretchy undervest with a vest over top,B次元官网网址� explains Wood. B次元官网网址淪o when they move their arms the whole thing doesnB次元官网网址檛 go up.B次元官网网址�

The outfits also have to be pretty tight so that during lifts or other large movements the costume stays on the dancer and doesnB次元官网网址檛 move around.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a little different from theatre or regular clothing for sure.B次元官网网址�

Ballet VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 latest production, Alice in Wonderland, will take place May 17 and 18 at the Royal Theatre. For more information or to purchase tickets visit.