‘Dracula’ is coming. So we went behind the scenes with Colorado Ballet’s wardrobe designer

By Lauren Antonoff Hart
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2min 25sec
Shirin Lankarani holds a red Dracula costume
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Shirin Lankarani holds one of the Dracula costumes to be used by the title character in Colorado Ballet’s upcoming “Dracula” production. Lankarani is the Wardrobe Manager and Costume Designer at Colorado Ballet. Photographed in the basement of the ballet’s headquarters on Santa Fe Drive in Denver, S

DRACULA COSTUMES COLORADO BALLET
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Shirin Lankarani among the costumes being prepared for Colorado Ballet’s upcoming performance of “Dracula.” Photographed in the basement of the ballet’s headquarters on Santa Fe Drive in Denver, Sept. 22, 2025.

DRACULA COSTUMES COLORADO BALLET
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Costume set for Colorado Ballet’s upcoming performance of “Dracula.” The fake fangs are just a fun decoration, and will not be part of the production, says Shirin Lankarani, the Wardrobe Manager and Costume Designer at Colorado Ballet.

Costume design for Lucy. The design depicts a full length female figure wearing an 1880's style costume adapted for ballet performance. The costume consists of a tight fitting light blue and white bodice with half length sleeves, worn over a light blue skirt with bustle trimmed with pleated yellow lace. Attached to the right of the figure are two photocopies of contemporary late 19th century drawing showing a woman's bodice and skirt. The design has been stamped by the "Society of British Theatre Designers" and the "United Scenic Artists International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades". Signed by the artist.
Costume design by Lez Brotherston for Lucy in the ballet "Dracula", Northern Ballet Theatre, Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Sept. 16, 1996.
Costume design for Lucy. The design depicts a full length female figure wearing an 1880's style nightdress adapted for ballet performance. Unsigned by the artist.
Costume design by Lez Brotherston for Lucy in the ballet "Dracula", Northern Ballet Theatre, Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Sept. 16, 1996.

A book with drawings and suggested fabrics to use for Dracula costumes
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Shirin Lankarani leafs through a book of the costumer designs from which she is working to create looks for Colorado Ballet’s upcoming performance of “Dracula.” Photographed in the basement of the ballet’s headquarters on Santa Fe Drive in Denver, Sept. 22, 2025.

Costume design for a Transylvanian Man. The design depicts a full length male figure wearing an 1880's style Transylvanian peasant costume adapted for ballet performance. The costume consists a long, fur lined coat worn over grey baggy trousers, a black underjacket, and a broad blue and red sash tied around the waist. The figure also wears black boots and a black astrakhan hat. Four photocopies depicting Eastern European peasant costume have been glued to the right of the figure. The design has been stamped by the "Society of British Theatre Designers" and the "International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades United Scenic Artists" in the upper right hand corner. Signed by the artist.
Costume design by Lez Brotherston for a Transylvanian man in the ballet "Dracula", Northern Ballet Theatre, Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Sept. 16, 1996.
Costume design for a Transylvanian Woman. The design depicts a full length female figure wearing an 1880's style Transylvanian peasant costume adapted for ballet performance. The costume consists a dark blue calf length dress with decorative silver borders and buttons worn under a black jacket. The figure also wears black boots and a black headscarf decorated with coins. Two photocopies depicting Eastern European peasant headdresses have been glued to the right of the figure. Unsigned by the artist. On the reverse is a pencil drawing of a male head.
Costume design by Lez Brotherston for a Transylvanian woman in the ballet "Dracula", Northern Ballet Theatre, Bradford Alhambra Theatre, Sept. 16, 1996.

DRACULA COSTUMES COLORADO BALLET
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Shirin Lankarani shows examples of villager costume designs for Colorado Ballet’s upcoming performance of “Dracula.” Photographed in the basement of the ballet’s headquarters on Santa Fe Drive in Denver, Sept. 22, 2025.

A woman holds up and carries a white dress to be worn by a character in Dracula
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Colorado Ballet’s Wardrobe Manager and Costume Designer Shirin Lankarani with a white dress to be worn by the character of Lucy Westenra in the ballet’s upcoming production of “Dracula, Photographed in the basement of the ballet’s headquarters on Santa Fe Drive in Denver, Sept. 22, 2025.

A bottle of red stage blood
A bottle of stage blood (with a “zesty mint” scent). Colorado Ballet costume designers will be using the liquid generously in their upcoming production of “Dracula.”
A white dress to be worn by the character of Lucy in “Dracula,” spattered in stage blood
A white dress to be worn by the character of Lucy Westenra, a character in “Dracula,” spattered in stage blood, hanging in a Colorado Ballet basement room, Sept. 22, 2025.

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