Beads sparkle, feathers sway, and fabrics glitter on Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus performers as they swing through the air—the bright stage lights illuminating their costumes.
“While the costumes are getting used with the songs and acts, seeing everything under the light, like the gems sparkling, is the best and most rewarding part of costume design,” said Megan Koenig, student head of costumes for the Gamma Phi Circus, which presents Dance On, Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22, at CEFCU Arena.
Koenig is a junior business management major who was first introduced to the Gamma Phi Circus while visiting her sister during Sibling Weekend four years ago. After being captivated by a performance, Koenig knew she wanted to attend Illinois State University and become part of the Gamma Phi Circus.
Koenig joined as a freshman and has performed as a dancer and aerialist. Growing up, she was a gymnast and dancer, and she was also familiar with sewing, crafts, and fashion, which sparked an interest in costume design.
“I had a history in sewing and some knowledge about it, and then I fell in love with costume design and started getting involved with it last year and became head of costumes this year,” Koenig said.
As the head of costumes, Koenig oversees the Gamma Phi Circus costume design committee. She and the committee choose designs and create costumes for each Gamma Phi Circus act. They start by considering the overall circus theme and the themes of individual acts. They then strategize how old costumes can be upcycled, while also ordering new costumes that they customize. The group hand sews, uses sewing machines, and adds elements including gems, rhinestones, ribbons, paint, tulle, and more.
“I’ve learned how to make patterns for dresses and all of this different stuff that I would have never known before coming to the circus, and I didn’t even know this was a part of the circus,” said Koenig. “But now that I do, it has been something that has made it even more memorable and fun for me to do and is something I look forward to.”
The costume design committee includes approximately 25 people who meet twice a week for a few hours to create hundreds of costumes for the circus. Koenig said they often work in small groups and alternate working on different costumes and different acts.
The costume design committee is advised by Maritza Atayde, the assistant director of the Gamma Phi Circus. Atayde has a rich history with circus culture and costume design. Atayde’s family owns the longest running family circus in Mexico, Circo Atayde Hermanos. She often attended circus performances as a young girl and said, “I always dreamed to become like them.”
At her family’s circus, Atayde performed as a dancer and an aerialist and said she “did a little bit of everything” to help.
After meeting her husband at the Circo Atayde Hermanos’ 100th celebration, Atayde joined the Ringling Brothers Circus. To try out for an act, they needed to create their own costumes. Atayde relied on friends to teach her costume design techniques.
“I started getting ideas for how I wanted my act to look, and I started designing costumes, liking it more, and learning from other people who do costumes and their ideas,” Atayde said.
She later moved to the Barnum and Bailey Circus and then made it to Big Apple Circus where she worked for 10 years as a wardrobe supervisor with circus fashion, wardrobe, and designers. Atayde also served as a customer service manager who interacted with donors and volunteers.
During her time with the Big Apple Circus, Atayde collaborated with and learned from renowned designers from all over the world including Broadway costume maker Carelli, David Belagou, Mirena Rada, and Austin Sanderson.
Atayde and her husband had two children who were educated by a traveling circus school. When it was time for her oldest son to look at colleges, their family visited Illinois State University and the Gamma Phi Circus, and Atayde said, “I fell in love with the program.”
Because of their rich circus history, Atayde and her husband began volunteering their time in 2013 to help with the Gamma Phi Circus. Atayde shared her knowledge, implemented yearly themes, and helped with costumes, makeup, and acts. She began working part-time in 2016, and in 2021, Atayde took on a full-time assistant director role. One of her primary duties is overseeing the costume design committee.
Atayde said her favorite part of costume design is, “to be unique.”
“I like the glamor, the sparkling, and to be creative,” Atayde said.
Both Atayde and Koenig agree that costume design makes a difference in a circus, and for Gamma Phi, Koenig said, “it makes us look like a professional circus.”
This year, Koenig and Atayde expect this spring’s home shows to showcase nearly 400 costumes. Each circus performer will have one to six costumes, depending on the acts they perform.
Koenig said the costume committee has been creating many new costumes with intricate details.
“I think this year, our costumes might be the best quality that they’ve been,” said Koenig.
Though their designs will remain a surprise until the Gamma Phi Circus’ home performances on April 21 and 22, this year’s costume creations will undoubtedly shine under the lights.
Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus will present Dance On at 7 p.m. Friday, April 21, and at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at CEFCU Arena. Tickets are available online at GoRedbirds.com/GammaPhi, over the phone at (309) 438-8000, or at the door the days of the performances.
