91. Behind the Seams: The Art of Ballet Costuming with Florimund's Founder Janessa Urwin

This week on The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Janessa Urwin: former professional ballerina, Resident Costume Designer for American Repertory Ballet, and founder of Florimund’s, a luxury ballet costume rental company.Janessa shares her unique journey from dancer to designer, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet costuming. We talk about everything from constructing tutus that survive decades of performances to helping dancers feel confident and transformed the moment they step on stage. We also chat about career pivots, creative entrepreneurship, and the many meaningful ways to build a life in ballet beyond performing.Whether you’re a dancer, teacher, studio owner, or just love the magic of ballet productions, this episode will give you a peek behind the seams at the passion and work that goes into crafting gorgeous costumes.Key Points in this Episode: How Janessa began learning the art of costume design while still dancing professionally What the costume design process really looks like and the unique challenges of designing for dancers How ballet costumes are built to last and get passed down through generations Practical tips for dancers during costume fittings (what to speak up about!) Why beautiful, well-fitting costumes elevate performance and confidence Founding Florimund’s to simplify the costume rental process and make high-quality tutus accessible for everyone!Connect with Florimund’s:WEBSITE: florimunds.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/florimundsLinks and Resources:1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career callLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerinaQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected]