Interview with Natalie Purschwitz – MIMIC
NATALIE PURSCHWITZ
Costume Designer | Official Website
1. What was the first costume piece you made for DJD?
One of the first pieces I made for DJD was a statue-like dress that Sarisa Figueroa de Toledo wore in Velvet. She got wheeled onto the stage on a very tall, tiered platform with the skirt, which was made to resemble stone, covering the entire platform. Her upper body and face were painted white to match the skirt, and her feet were fixed into place so that she could lean out really far in any direction, giving the effect of a music box dancer.
2. Which DJD show was your favourite to work on?
Ooh, that’s tough… there were so many! The shows I especially loved were Wiseapple, Year of the Horse, and New Universe.
3. How does your art practice influence your costume design?
I work with clothing, or the idea of clothing, in a lot of my artwork, so there tends to be some overlap. I guess in both practices I’m inspired and motivated by materials. I’m also always curious about how costumes (or clothes in general) can influence and affect who a performer is and what a performer can do when they are wearing them, which is something that I also think about sometimes in my sculptural explorations with clothes.
4. How did the Banff Puppet Intensive inspire your designs for this piece?
Kimberley Cooper had been talking to me about the Intensive for a couple of years already, so I was pretty excited to experience it. And, of course, it was incredible to be in an environment where everyone was completely able to let go of the day-to-day drudgery of life and get focused on something so specific. I loved learning about the craft of puppetry and all of its intricacies. It was excellent to experience Pete’s world and perspective and then later meet with Kim and Pete to bounce ideas back and forth. It was also really invaluable to have the workshop set up with all kinds of materials and supplies to just try things out or make mockups to help visualize how something could unfold. I think ultimately it was about trying to develop a common language that we could all move forward with.
Production & Artistic Collaborations at DJD
Decidedly Jazz Danceworks collaborates with acclaimed costume designers, visual artists, and production specialists to create striking, immersive theatrical experiences for jazz dance audiences.
Explore upcoming DJD Shows & Performances or learn more about DJD’s artistic vision and company history.
