rachel finzen

I get lots of messages asking what my connection to Travis Halsey is, mostly from people who are just discovering his work for the first time on YouTube. I could never have imagined the places I would go or the things I would experience with Travis. Both of us grew up in small communities in southeastern South Dakota, but we had never met each other. He was about 7 years older than I was, which was enough of a difference to never run into each other or many mutual friends. 

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Travis and I didn't meet until after I had finished college and moved to Chicago. He was already a very talented and accomplished costume designer who had worked all over the country for different ballet companies and various projects. He had recently started freelancing from his apartment, and like all of us, wanted to be his own boss. I started working with him, and while our skill sets came from different creative disciplines, we collaborated well and the business, Halsey Onstage, grew quickly. We continued to expand our space into larger and larger commercial spaces until we were eventually hosting students and interns from all over the world for classes, and we were pinching ourselves as we watched Madonna perform a dress rehearsal in an empty arena, flanked by a dozen of her backup dancers clad in our handiwork.

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Travis truly felt like a big brother to me. We loved each other and we fought with each other plenty too. Some of the best years of our lives were getting into the flow and just creating projects without any restriction for weeks on end. We relentlessly made fun of each other and genuinely had a great time with each other and with those who visited the shop or worked with us. We just "got" each other.

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Travis unfortunately passed away in April 2020 after a short and intense battle with cancer. He was far too young and just getting started with his incredible career as a costume designer. People say it all the time about those who have died, but Travis truly lived his life to the fullest and was a generous person. He loved to travel and meet new people, and was so outgoing and extroverted that I now have to remind myself to be more like him every day. Everyone had fun with Travis, and as hard as Travis worked, he definitely seized every opportunity to simply spread joy and have as much fun as possible.

 

We have stories that will last a lifetime from our friendship and work at Halsey Onstage. Everything about that business was his passion. He lived to create costumes and joy, and as one of his productions opened, he would light up just as brightly as the performers onstage.

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My heart breaks thinking about the beauty he created for this world and how we will never see what else he was going to create. I hope anyone who owns one of Travis’ costumes treasures it and shares it with the world. It gives me comfort to know that there are many ballet companies dotting the country who will be performing in his costumes for decades to come. It gives me even greater comfort to know that so many of your lives were also touched by Travis in different ways, and that it’s impossible for you to forget his light and beaming personality.

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I could go into all of his accolades and accomplishments as a designer, but what really matters is that you remember his personality and the memories you have with him. For those of you who never met him, please visit the YouTube channel to view his instructional webinars. They are now available for free viewing, thanks to his family. I know he is thrilled to know how many people are making tutus and dancewear for the first time after watching!

 

In memory of Travis, please take the time to turn up some music and create something that brings you joy, no matter how small it may seem. And to Travis, I love you and won’t feel whole again until we can laugh together and tear up a city one more night.

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-Rachel

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PS: I want to attach a photo of the main team of artists who made Halsey Onstage so magical throughout the years and contributed to the largest projects with incredible enthusiasm and work ethic. Thank you to the HUNDREDS of additional interns and employees the shop hosted throughout the years. You are what made everything happen!