Creating Youth Costumes for the P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group

Puerto Rican Dance Painting (www.pinterest.com)

Puerto Rico has a rich culture that is fused with influences from Tiano, African, and Spanish Cultures. Although not of Puerto Rican decent myself, my Step-Mother, and one of my Sisters, are Puerto Rican. Through them, I have learned so much about the Puerto Rican people, and have participated in events held by the local Puerto Rican Club, P.R.O.U.D. 

P.R.O.U.D., is the Puerto Rican Organization United for Development, a Puerto Rican Club, that gathers interested individuals together for the betterment of the community. Members do not have to be Puerto Rican to join. The club holds annual Scholarship Fundraisers, Dances, Dinners, and other social gatherings. This year, P.R.O.U.D. Modesto has decided to bring back the beloved Puerto Rican Girl's Dance Group! The Dance Group teaches interested young people traditional dances of Puerto Rico, and is scheduled to preform at upcoming Puerto Rican Festivals and events. 

The Dance Group is open to interested Boys and Girls, but at this time, only Girls have joined. Like the club, Dance Group members do not need to be Puerto Rican to join. 

I am delighted to have been commissioned by P.R.O.U.D. Modesto to construct the dresses for the girls in the new  Dance Group! In September, I was sent photos of traditional Puerto Rican Dance Dresses, as well as the orders for the members of the Dance Group. I wanted to stay as close to the original concept as possible, due to this being a cultural costume. All dresses would be the same, but in various sizes. Once the orders were in, I drafted the pattern for the dress, in girl's dress sizes 5 through 12, I purchased fabric, trim, and notions, and I then began to create the costumes...

Check out the sketch I drew, illustrating the dance costume concept, that the P.R.O.U.D Club Members decided on: 

Conceptual Illustration of Puerto Rican Dance Costume, by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel.

Work in Progress...

Here are some exclusive, behind the scenes, photos, taken in my workroom, as I created these lovely costumes! 

Notions, Trim, and Rulers!

The Dance Costume Dress Patterns that I drafted, in Girl's Sizes 5-12, along with my notes and fabric swatches!

Cutting out the fabric for my size 12 dresses...

Drafting Patterns and Cutting Fabric in my Design Studio!

Attaching the Dress Bodice to the Skirt! (Prior to adding the Ribbon and Flag detail to the Skirt)

The garment rack begins to fill up with dresses! Project almost completed!

Creating a Puerto Rican Flag Template and Pattern... then cutting the Fabric...

The Puerto Rican Flags are ready to be sewn onto the dresses!

The Puerto Rican Dance Costumes are ready for the Final Fitting!

Dresses Completed!

When all of the dresses were finalized, I met with the dance group for a final fitting. With my rolling rack in hand, we met where the group was rehearsing. Once the girls tried on the costumes, I was pleased to see that only one minor alterations was needed. The dresses were performance ready! 

The hanging dress doesn't show the full span of the skirt width, but with its red sash, it is performance ready!

Skirt Span!

The PR.O.U.D. Girl's Dance Group, in costume, at their dance rehearsal.

The First Performance! 

On October 6th, 2018, the P.R.O.U.D Modesto Girl's Dance Group performed for the first time at The International Heritage Festival, held at Modesto Junior College  in Modesto, California. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this festival, since I had a prior commitment scheduled for an OFW Art & Style Magazine Photo Shoot that same day in Oakland. However, my loving husband, Javier, took our three children to this event, where they were able to view a fantastic presentation of traditional Puerto Rican Dance, presented by the P.R.O.U.D. Girl's Dance Group! One of my nieces, Vivianna, is a member of the Dance Group! Javier was able to take some beautiful photos of their performance.

Here are some of the marvelous photos  that my husband, and my sister, Desiree, took of the P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group's first performance:

P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group at the International Heritage Festival! Photo by Desiree Rodriguez Peredez.

P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group at the International Heritage Festival! Photo by Desiree Rodriguez Peredez.

P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group at the International Heritage Festival! Photo by Jav Ran Photography.

P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group at the International Heritage Festival! Photo by Jav Ran Photography.

P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group at the International Heritage Festival! Photo by Jav Ran Photography.

P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group at the International Heritage Festival! Photo by Jav Ran Photography.

P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group at the International Heritage Festival! Photo by Jav Ran Photography.

When viewing the photos myself, it was wonderful to see these young ladies enjoy themselves, while learning traditional dance of the Puerto Rican Culture! It was exciting to see the dresses I had created flowing with rhythmic beauty as the girls twirled and waved the folds of fabric while dancing! 
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Thank you for joining me, as I created the Dance Costumes for the P.R.O.U.D. Modesto Girl's Dance Group! I hope you enjoyed the photos and commentary! 

Leave me a comment! I would love to hear your feedback on my Blog! 
I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Related Links: 

My Sewing Journal: Custom Children's Project's- Volume 1

Re-Creating a 1920's Look... with Make-Up! 

Parrot Couture