Isabela Bazan’s introduction to costume design began with piecing together her pointe shoes, a process every ballet dancer is tasked with.

Now a senior in high school, Bazan’s process has evolved from attaching elastic or ribbons to completely redesigning the Dewdrop Fairy costume used in the Vermont Ballet Theater School Center for Dance’s Nutcracker performance.

As a dancer of 13 years, Bazan has seen the unrealistic expectations put on dancers for how their bodies should look in order to receive a part and be considered a “good” dancer.

“You have to be a very specific height. You can't be too short. You can't be too tall. You can't be muscular but you still need to be strong and you have to be thin but not too thin,” Bazan said.

Essex Westford School District

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