By Shilpa Raina. Maharashtra, India, 01:30 PM IST

Whenever one thinks of fashion shows, the first thing that comes to mind is glamour, glitz and gorgeous beauties scorching the ramp. But, there is more to these shows that is widely ignored: the backstage team that works hard to put the event together.

'We take care of the nitty gritty like lighting, music, the queuing list and the tagging of garments. It might sound strange, but these form the basis of any fashion show. They can make or break a show,' ace choreographer Aparna of the Aparna-Tanya duo told IANS.

'One really has to be on one's toes while a show is on, but once it's done, the hard work pays off really well,' she added, in the midst of last minute preparations for the inaugural HDIL India Couture Week that got underway here Tuesday.

'Generally, people have this misconception that a choreographer just decides the ramp walk for the models. This is not true. A choreographer is like a director who visualises and puts different pieces together for the grand show,' Aparna explained.

The role of the choreographer comes into the picture from day one, as he or she sits with the designer and conceptualises the show. The designer then works on the theme and together they decide on the music, set and the colour schemes for the event.

'The designer gives his preferences of what kind of set he wants for his show. The choreographer then hires the concerned person and takes care of the set,' said Daman Deep, who assists the Aparna-Tanya duo.

'The music decides the choreography and the colour scheme of the show,' he added.

The next part is the order in which the models will walk the ramp - and this is no easy job.

'The most striking model will start and end the show. After all, a show has to open with a bang and close with a blast. This has to be kept in mind at every fashion show,' Deep explained.

After all this has been sorted out comes the last and most important part - the fittings.

Since designers don't work with specific models in mind, last minute alterations are required once a set of models has been identified for a particular show. This is vitally important for both the designer and the model because a bad fit can ruin the whole effect.

After this comes the tagging that lays down the sequence in which a particular model will wear a particular set of garments during a show.

'Suppose a model is wearing three different garments in a show. The three garments will be tagged one after the other and she will wear them only according to the tag sequence,' Deep explained.

All this happens in the run up to D-day, but the real test comes when the fashion show actually takes place. The backstage environment is lively and chaotic at the same time.

'In spite of some tension, it's all fun. You have to be on your toes till the very end to make sure nothing goes wrong,' Deep said.

Models generally report three hours before the start of a show for their make-up and last minute briefings. Simultaneously, the backstage team irons out their garments and lines them up in the proper sequence.

The backstage team comprises of a backstage manager, his assistants and helpers, every one of whom plays a pivotal role in the show.

Each model is assigned a helper who has full details about lining up of garments for that individual and the sequence in which she will be heading out to the runway. The helper is also responsible for small things like changing a lipstick or a bindi to match the attire.

'A helper must know the sequencing of the garments. During the show, all tags are removed and it's only the helper who knows what a model should wear next. He has to do his homework really well,' Deep explained.

On stage, the scene is different, with the choreographer sitting in the console area and coordinating via wireless with the backstage manager to ensure that the models are following the cue sequence.

And, once the show is over, the lessening of the tension and anxiety is quite palpable.

By Shilpa Raina (Staff Writer, © IANS)