Dimitri Bess; Opera and Ballet Costumer

Dimitri Bess, 59, opera and ballet costumer and costume consultant. Henrietta Pelta, the opera impresario, pianist and coach who worked with Bess for many years at Euterpe Opera of Los Angeles, told The Times she met Bess as a dancer when he was in the corps of the Alicia Alonso “Coppelia” at the Greek Theatre in 1957. Before that, Bess had been a ballet dancer in Europe. In later years, he gave up dancing after an auto accident. In the 1960s and ‘70s he worked in the costume departments at the San Diego Opera and Houston Grand Opera companies, among others. He also traveled as a consultant to foundations. On Feb. 22 in West Los Angeles of cancer.