Behind the Sequins: The Art of Creating Dancing With the Stars Costumes
Dancing With the Stars costume designer Daniela Gschwendtner shared insights into the creation process of the show's ballroom ensembles. Starting as a stylist, she transitioned to designing costumes for the show in 2009. Gschwendtner's journey to becoming one of the lead costume makers involved learning on the job and eventually landing a key role on DWTS.
Reconnecting with a former colleague led Gschwendtner to a job opportunity on DWTS after completing a project in New Mexico. Despite starting in a different role, she quickly rose to become a designer for the show, showcasing her talent and expertise in creating intricate and dazzling costumes for the dancers.
Every detail of the costumes, including the rhinestones, is meticulously done by hand by Gschwendtner and her team. With a well-established system in place, they efficiently embellish each costume to perfection, enhancing the overall glamour and appeal of the show.
Prior to the rhinestone process, dancers and stars try on a "shell" to ensure the costume fits perfectly before the final embellishments are added. This meticulous approach to costume creation elevates the overall look of the performers, making their outfits truly spectacular on stage.
Gschwendtner and her team work tirelessly to create over 200 costumes in just one week for the show, catering to competitors, partners, the troupe, and special performances. Collaborating with the pros like Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, and Val Chmerkovskiy is crucial to ensure the costumes align with the choreography and storytelling of each dance.
After the show, most of the costumes are saved and stored for potential reuse or modification for future performances. Gschwendtner emphasized the importance of preserving these intricate and expensive creations, giving them a new life in subsequent shows or events.
The costumes also accompany the pros on the Dancing With the Stars Tour, showcasing the stunning designs and craftsmanship to audiences beyond the TV show. Gschwendtner's dedication to creating memorable and visually striking costumes plays a vital role in enhancing the overall experience of Dancing With the Stars.