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 Our selections include a
number of ballet tutu fit and price
options, do-it-yourself supplies
for ballet tutus and other ballet
dance costumes. In this section, "Ballet Costumes," consider our Basic Tutu Costume Styles that you can decorate, which are available
in many styles, colors, and
offer a choice in fit and detail. These ballet tutus are ready for you
to embellish using our "Embellishment" and "Fabric" departments... where you can find the supplies you need to
create and/or decorate your own
ballet costume.. Increase the savings with our Volume Discounts, where when you order 10 or more of our basic ballet tutu styles, you'll receive
10% off your order. Then, head off to our "Accessories" collection where you can complete the look of your ballet tutu
with sleeves, wings, and tiaras
as well as to find items to
store and transport your ballet costumes.
If you are lacking creativity,
we're happy to give you FREE ballet costume embellishment ideas
if you email
us or call us toll-free at 1-800-820-1667.
View our ballet tutu selections:
Ballet Tutus (in a variety of colors) Our ballet costumes are available in many standard colors
and sizes. Volume discounts on orders of the same color
& style. Remember, you can embellish
your basic ballet costumes!
Tutu Bodices (in a variety of colors)
Nutcracker Ballet Costumes
History
of the Ballerina Tutu
 The
ballerina tutu has been called one of the greatest costume
inventions of all time. It is just
that, a brilliant “invention”--unlike
any garment otherwise known. Confused about
the parts of a ballet tutu and confused about the different
ballet tutu types? Well, we’re going to help
you make your way through the world of ballet tutus.
“Tutu” is French Baby Talk
for Your Bottom!
According to Wikipedia, The word for this ballet dance costume is a corruption of cucu, French baby talk
for cul-cul meaning roughly "botty-wotty"
(for bottom). Legend has it that the term was first used by commoners who, unlike
the wealthy sitting in the upper levels of the
ballet theaters, were seated in the lower levels.
These commoners would look up at the dancer
and had a very different view of the ballet.
“Tutu” refers to the area seen under
the ballerinas’ skirts. The derivation
of the name not nearly as elegant, beautiful
and romantic as the garment itself!
Anatomy of a Ballerina Tutu
Before we look at the different ballet tutu styles,
let’s get the tutu anatomy straight.
 A
ballet tutu presents major construction challenges:
- The ballet tutu must be beautiful—yet durable.
- The ballet tutu must fit like a glove—yet
allow a full range of freedom in movement.
So, some really brilliant costumers developed
a way to piece together different elements to
overcome both of these challenges.
Ballet Tutu Bodice
The ballet tutu bodice can use from 6 to 15 panels
of fabric. Some of these pieces are cut on the
bias (the diagonal) which gives fabric some
stretch. The ballet tutu bodice is a separate piece of the ballet
costume attached at the waistline or high on
the hip; sometimes it's put together just with
elastic tabs to allow for movement.
The Tutu Basque
The ballet tutu basque is the piece that sits from the waist to
high on the hip. It can be continuous with the
bodice or a separate, tight fitting fabric “band.”
The Tutu Skirt
The ballet tutu skirts determine the shape of the tutu
and generally define the style: Romantic, Classical
or Bell. These different tutu styles will be
explained in the next section.
Ballet Tutu History and Styles
The Romantic Tutu Skirt
The first ballet tutu is credited as appearing
in Paris in 1832 on Marie Taglioni
in La Sylphide. Her tutu skirt (see right)
was cut above the ankle to show her famous legwork.
This first ballet tutu style was dubbed, "The
Romantic Tutu”. This romantic
style occurred during the “Romantic”
period in ballet costume history.
Romantic Tutus are long, floating and ethereal.
They are usually 3 – 5 layers of soft
tulle.
There are 2 types of Romantic Tutu. In the
first type of Romantic Tutu, the skirt begins
at the waist. The second type of Romantic Tutu
is a dropped waist version. The skirt begins
at the high hip and is called a Romantic
Tutu with Basque.
The Classical Tutu Skirt
Historically, after the Romantic Tutu, came
the Classical Tutu. The Classical Tutu
was born from the viewers’ request to
see more of the intricate movements that dancers
were starting to perform. The Classical
Tutu skirt jutted out horizontally from the dancer’s
hips and showed more of the leg. This style
of ballerina tutu was first worn by the Italian ballerina
Virginia Zucci in the 1880s. This first Classical tutu ended just above the ballerina’s
knees and looked more like the current Bell tutu skirt
or even Romantic tutu skirt.
As the years went by the Classical
Tutu skirt shrank to show more and more of
the feet and legs. Today, there are two main
styles of what is known as the “Classical”
Tutu: the very flat Pancake / Platter / Plate
or Russian design (this ballet tutu skirt goes by many different
names!) and the softer Powderpuff or “Balanchine” style of Classical
Tutu.
The tutu skirt ruffles on Classical Tutus are placed
on a panty.The pancake style Classical Tutu
has a wide, flat tutu skirt, is hooped, and is tightly
tacked. It is made of stiff tutu netting.
Hooping is stiff petticoat wire inserted
into a casing in one of the central
ruffle rows. Hooping aids in keeping the tutu’s
flat, stiff shape.
Powderpuff Classical Tutu Skirt
The “Powderpuff” style
of Classical Tutu has a softer look. It is not hooped, has a shorter skirt and is
tacked more loosely. It can be made of softer
tulle (like the romantics) or a combination
of net and tulle. (photo credit: Symphony
In C Tutu, From Bentley, Toni, Costumes by Karinska,
1995, Harry N. Abrams, Inc, p. 104.)
Bell Tutu Skirt
Another ballet tutu fashion is the Bell Tutu. The
Bell Tutu is named for its bell like shaping
and is combines features of the Romantic and
Classical tutu skirts. The Bell Tutu has shorter, more
numerous tutu skirt layers than the Romantic and
longer and less numerous tutu skirt layers than the
Classical Tutu. The Bell has no hoop and is
very loosely tacked. It can be made of softer
tulle like the Romantic or net like the Classical
or a combination of both. Like the Classical
Tutu, it has ruffles that are stitched onto
a panty.
Final Thoughts on Ballet Tutus
In spite of the fact that the ballet tutu has just
a few pieces, the shaping, lines and combinations
of fabrics and colors are endless. Hopefully,
this information will help you to plan the ballerina tutu
of your dreams, and at Class Act Tutu we
are always here to help.
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