This costume titled 'Americas Fiesta' was designed by Australian fashion and textile designer Jenny Kee and manufactured in the Ceremonies Costume Workshop. The costume appeared on the Americas float in the Arrivals segment of the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and was worn by Sophia Ashenhurst.

The costume features a tight fitting boned bodice in red silk satin, a frilled skirt in hand painted and sequinned silk and oversized turban made from hand painted silk. The skirt has enlarged motifs appliquÂ?d to it derived from the 'Americas' textile print designed by Kee for the event. Platform shoes covered in the same hand-painted silk fabric complete the costume. Kee describes the design as 'a glittering radiant costume with multi - mixing of imagery - paying homage to Carmen, the Caribbean and Carnivale' Kee 2002

The Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games was comprised of three major sections: the mandatory formalities and protocol sections, the cultural display and the entrance of the athletes. Within the cultural display, there were eight segments titled: Welcome, Deep Sea Dreaming, Awakening, Fire, Nature, Tin Symphony, Arrivals and Eternity.

This costume was used in the Arrivals segment of the Opening Ceremony. This segment aimed to produce a theatrical representation of Australia's multiculturalism. The programme for the Olympic Opening Ceremony states: The history of Australia is the history of migration. We have come from all corners of the planet to form a vibrant, culturally rich and constantly evolving society. In this segment, a new group of arrivals form the Olympic symbol that unites the five continents of the world. They disperse, leaving behind their children - our hope for the future. More children appear until two thousand gather to form the pattern of the night sky, containing the distinctive Southern Cross constellation.

The Arrivals segment saw five floats each representing a continent enter the arena. Each float carried performers in costumes inspired by the continent. The colours of the Olympic rings set the costume colours; black for the African nations, yellow for the Asian nations, red for the Americas, green for Europe and blue for Oceania, which includes Australia.

Fashion and film designers rather than theatrical designers were chosen to provide a contemporary, cutting edge, high fashion look to the costumes. The designers were Jenny Kee - Africa and Americas, Lisa Ho - Asia, Norma Moriceau - Europe and Peter Morrissey - Oceania.

Performers were selected from schools, community groups and from cultural and ethnic support groups. Approximately 500 performers danced around and on each of the five floats in the costumes created by the designers.

Jenny Kee (born Sydney 1947) is one of Australia's most significant and creative clothing and textile designers. Kee is best known for designing and retailing a unique range of colourful clothing and knitwear. Her work is characterised by the graphic and dynamic nature of her design style as well as her ability interpret cultural icons in a highly original way.

In the developing the designs for the Americas section Kee collaborated with Creative Consultant Jan Thornley, Costume Artist Paula Martin and team. They applied a rigorous research and design development process to realise the costumes for the Americas float. The diverse cultures and colourful history of the American continent provided inspiration for the costume designs. According to Kee the designs draw "thematic common links between North, South and Central Americas through nature, flora and fauna, art and craft - ancient and modern - symbols and icons. Showing interconnectedness of vibrant cultures - beyond borders. My work is dedicated with respect to the first peoples and present day diverse cultures which have evolved since the discovery of the New World." Kee 2002 Kee's inspiration was taken from a diverse range of iconic elements from the Americas. These include: Mexico Rose - the work of Lichtenstein - Warhol's 'Marilyn' - Bear Crossing - Salsa - Rio - Reggae - Jazz - Miles Davis - Maize - the Amazonian rainforest - toucans - the macaw - the rich rainbow colours of the ancient Mayan world - Route 66 - the maple leaf - the eagle - Navajo - Hopi - Kwakiutl - rock'n'roll - the Ohio Mound and Liberty.

With red as a palette base for the costumes, a colour symbolic to Kee of 'life and energy', Kee developed the 'Americas' textile design by creating a collage of nine of her paintings "I began with a series of paintings to express these thoughts and collaged them into the 'Americas' textile print. Every part of this design is an image of the Americas." Kee 2002 This method is typical of her design style and results in a vibrant and spontaneous explosion of colour and meaning. "From my paintings the costumes came - to express the heart and soul of the Americas" Kee 2002. The print is used in a wide variety of ways in her designs for the Americas float. In the Americas Fiesta costume enlarged motifs derived from the 'Americas' textile print have been appliquÂ?d to the surface of the skirt and turban.

In the words of Kee, Americas Fiesta is "a glittering radiant costume with multi - mixing of imagery - paying homage to Carmen, Caribbean and Carnivale. Inspired by swirling dancers of Rio Carnivale, radiant exotic Caribbean rhythms and lavish glittering Carmen Miranda style." Kee 2002



Maker name The hand-painting of the fabric used for the skirt and turban was done by Reptilia Interiors in Rozelle. The motifs that appear on the skirt and turban were hand-painted by Jenny Kee and Chloe Simcox and applied by Paula Martin in her workshop in Lawson. The skirt and bodice were constructed in the Ceremonies Costume Workshop by Bettine Roynan and team. The turban was constructed by Rosie Boylan in her workshop in Newtown. The shoes were constructed by Chloe Simcox in Lawson.

Worn by Sophia Ashenhurst.

Presented to the Powerhouse Museum by the Olympic Coordination Authority, on behalf of the NSW Government

Performance costume, 'Americas Fiesta', fabric/sequins, designed by Jenny Kee, made by Ceremonies Costume Workshop - Bettine Roynan and team and by Rosie Boylan in her workshop in Newtown, used in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000

Consists of a turban made from hand painted silk satin and red silk satin with sequins across the surface of the turban. The turban has been built on a wire frame that has been padded with nylon tulle and nylon wadding. Also included in the costume is a red silk satin bodice with hand painted silk satin flounces that have been bound with thick piping cord. There is also a hand painted and sequined skirt that is long and full with an exaggerated, flared hemline. The hemline of the skirt has been bound with thick piping cord. A hooped petticoat worn under the skirt also exaggerates the flare of the skirt. A pair of platform shoes completes the costume. Large sequins are attached across the hand painted fabric of the garment.

Made: 2000

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2000