Alena Kudera costume designer responded to the vision and creative development of Samadhi led by FADT Artistic Director Paul Bayes Kitcher, and digital technologist Noel Jones.  

Alena says: “I worked with the contrasts that the road of recovery brings. All Samadhi costumes were made to work and communicate in support of each other, on their recovery  journey to an elevated, undisturbed state of mind.” 

White jersey and cotton as well as black cotton fabrics sourced from surplus stock donated by Florence Roby Ltd. 

Five Angel Suits 

BLACK v WHITE 

Which is positive, which is negative? 

Which way do we turn? Can we ‘stay looking at the sun’? 

BALANCE x IMBALANCE 

The feeling of imbalance with the asymmetrical cut of the tops.  

Finding balance by making the costume move in the direction we want to go. Seeing beauty in the odd flow.  

HEAVY x LIGHT 

Layers of tassels add heaviness to the costumes yet a sense of lightness with the feather like appearance. 

A sense of being rooted. Not weighed down by the heaviness. 

Feeling the lightness of a bird that can choose to fly. 

Together the five costumes are creating ‘the plasticity of the brain’ with their coming and moving together. 

Forming waves and momentum. 

Featured dancers costumes:  

HARSH v SOFT 

Male dancer costume, gathered with rope, creating a pattern, structure, yet unravelling.  

Cable ties – associated with negative action – made of plastic. ARTIFICIAL, yet appearing ORGANIC and appealing. Stabbing into its environment, RESTRICTING movement, taking space. 

Female dancer set of two costumes – voluminous, ethereal, calm, protective, feather/angel like. ENHANCING movement. Coming in two stages, growing. 

Together both costumes are integrating whilst communicating the opposites of their added components. 

“Out of this World- Pillow Cases’ Costumes 

Named by Collette (Angel Dancer). They are representing the idea of a PROTECTED or LIMITED environment, 

SOOTHING/COMFORTING or TRAPPING a sense of space/feelings. Forming abstract, changing shapes. 

To see more of Alena’s designs: https://www.kudera.co.uk