Not on display

Volumina

Dance Costume
2005 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Two-part costume designed by Peter Todd for a woman in Volumina, choreographed by Richard Alston, 2005. The mini-dress has the name ' Fran' written in it, presumably Francesca Romo. The seersucker silk fabric was bought from fabric suppliers, Whaley’s, and the warm, vibrant, spicy colours for the costumes were achieved by saturating them with Dylon dyes.

Volumina was choreographed by Richard Alston to György Ligeti's organ worksm Harmonies (1967), Coulée (1969) and Volumina (1961-62), and first performed at the Arts Theatre, Cambridge, on 18 October 2005. Alston said that ‘the surging and thundering of Volumina conjures up cavernous hollows filled with sudden rushes of intense light.' He also talked about the choreography revealing shapes, an idea reflected in the costumes.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Dance Costume
  • Dance Costume
TitleVolumina (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Dyed seersucker silk dress and cotton shorts
Brief description
Yellow mini-dress and shorts, designed by Peter Todd for a woman in Volumina, choreographed by Richard Alston, 2005
Physical description
S.219:1-2021
Yellow and black sleeveless seersucker silk mini-dress, the irregular yellow half of the dress dyed using Dylon 'Golden Glow’.

S.219:2-2021
Yellow cotton shorts.
Dimensions
  • Length of mini dress length: 72cm
  • Circumference at lower hem circumference: 66cm (Note: The fabric is clingy)
  • Length of shorts at side seam length: 27cm
Credit line
Richard Alston Dance Company Archive given by the Contemporary Dance Trust
Object history
Acquired as part of the Richard Alston Dance Company Archive THM/627 from the London Contemporary Dance Trust
Summary
Two-part costume designed by Peter Todd for a woman in Volumina, choreographed by Richard Alston, 2005. The mini-dress has the name ' Fran' written in it, presumably Francesca Romo. The seersucker silk fabric was bought from fabric suppliers, Whaley’s, and the warm, vibrant, spicy colours for the costumes were achieved by saturating them with Dylon dyes.

Volumina was choreographed by Richard Alston to György Ligeti's organ worksm Harmonies (1967), Coulée (1969) and Volumina (1961-62), and first performed at the Arts Theatre, Cambridge, on 18 October 2005. Alston said that ‘the surging and thundering of Volumina conjures up cavernous hollows filled with sudden rushes of intense light.' He also talked about the choreography revealing shapes, an idea reflected in the costumes.
Collection
Accession number
S.219:1, 2-2021

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Record createdMay 9, 2021
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