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.
Anatomy of a Ballerina Tutu
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 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.
http://www.classacttutu.com/
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.
http://www.classacttutu.com/
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 knickers. 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.
http://www.classacttutu.com/
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.
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 the knickers.
http://www.classacttutu.com/
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