Contests
Costume Cisneros
Story of Your Design
I wanted to create a dress that represented who I am, where I come from, and why I dance. A dress that would allow me to shine on stage as I return to dance after a 20-year break.
I grew up loving dance. It was where I felt free, expressive, and completely myself. But because of financial hardships, I was encouraged to pursue other sports, and eventually, dance became part of my past.
Twenty years later, I enrolled my daughter in dance. When her teachers learned that I had danced growing up, they encouraged me to return. Stepping back onto the stage has been transformative. Dance became my haven, my creative outlet, and a place where I found complete joy. It reminded me that some passions never disappear; they simply wait for us to find our way back.
The orange and blue represent my roots in Syracuse, New York. The flowing design represents movement, my immersion in music, and my love of Japanese art and koi fish. The Celtic knotwork across the chest honors my love of Irish dance and its place in my journey. I placed it close to my heart intentionally.
This dress is more than a costume. It represents coming home to myself. This creation celebrates the little girl who loved to dance, the woman who found her way back, and the joy of discovering that it is never too late to pursue what makes you feel alive, an intricate, continuous loop with no end.
I grew up loving dance. It was where I felt free, expressive, and completely myself. But because of financial hardships, I was encouraged to pursue other sports, and eventually, dance became part of my past.
Twenty years later, I enrolled my daughter in dance. When her teachers learned that I had danced growing up, they encouraged me to return. Stepping back onto the stage has been transformative. Dance became my haven, my creative outlet, and a place where I found complete joy. It reminded me that some passions never disappear; they simply wait for us to find our way back.
The orange and blue represent my roots in Syracuse, New York. The flowing design represents movement, my immersion in music, and my love of Japanese art and koi fish. The Celtic knotwork across the chest honors my love of Irish dance and its place in my journey. I placed it close to my heart intentionally.
This dress is more than a costume. It represents coming home to myself. This creation celebrates the little girl who loved to dance, the woman who found her way back, and the joy of discovering that it is never too late to pursue what makes you feel alive, an intricate, continuous loop with no end.