By DANI ROTHWELL
BERWICK Beaconhills student Leshea P has designed a steam punk stilt costume as her contribution to the term-long Personal Best project undertaken by Year 9 students.
Her passion as a performer in the circus troupe Ruccis inspired her project, after being a member for 10 years and training six times a week in skills like tumbling and aerial work.
“I do want to make a career out of it,” she said.
“I will be wearing this dress when I am roving about during performances.”
The dress is styled in the Victorian gothic style of traditional circuses and took about 70 hours to complete.
The process included workshopping her ideas and doing sketches before she could start.
The final product is designed to be worn by Leshea when she is walking on stilts due to the metres of material involved.
Other projects that have been created by students include a book about Melbourne and a Ghillie (camouflage suit).
The Beaconhills Year 9 program is designed to engage students at a time when students traditionally switched off from their learning.
