Shining a Bright Light on the Iconic Tutu

Almost everyone can agree that ballet is much more than a dance. It’s a timeless form of art and the visual representation of elegance and grace. One can even say that life without ballet would be pointless. *ba-dum-tss*

The term ballet comes from the Italian word “ballare” which means to dance. Although originating in Italy, ballet started to gain its popularity in France during the reign of Louis XIV. At first, the king himself and fellow noblemen performed the graceful dance steps which were popular at the time, but later on, professional dancers were hired to entertain the guests at court functions.

Fast forward to today, ballet is more popular than ever. Russia, USA, Australia and other countries have developed their own unique stylistic character of this dance. However, no matter where you go to enjoy ballet, three things remain the same. The neat bun, the pointe shoe and the tutu.

The neat stylish bun adds to the elegance of the ballerina and keeps her hair out of the way. The second one is needed to perform the en pointe dance which requires ballerinas to move on their toes. But what about the third one, can’t ballerinas just dance in any type of skirt?

The Story Behind the Dance Tutu

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Ballet without the fluffy skirts would be too-too hard to imagine. The story of the ballet tutu goes way back to 1832 when Italian ballet dancer Marie Taglioni wore it on stage to perform a play called “La Sylphide”, and my oh my, it was an instant hit. Although Taglioni’s tutu was nothing like those we see today, it was a major improvement of the ballet costumes which were used at the time.

It was a bell-shaped skirt made of soft fabric which ended down by her ankles. It was specially designed to raise above her feet to accentuate her magnificent en pointe footwork. As time passed by, the ballet skirts became shorter and shorter. By the late 1800s, ballerinas started to wear something more similar to the costumes we know today.

Why are Tutus Used in Ballet?

The artistic director of Sierra Nevada Ballet and a former prima ballerina, Rosine Bena, writes that in the art of ballet, the costume is just as important as the dancer. That’s because the ballet tutu is the first thing people notice when the dancer steps on stage. It immediately gives out the notion of the choreography even before the performance starts.

The tutu carries the magic of the entire performance. It adds to the style and grace of the talented ballerinas, highlights the individual form of the dancer, accentuates the intricate footwork and supports the physicality of ballet. Wearing a tutu on stage takes great courage since this brief jutting skirt is everything, but forgiving. It exposes the dancers’ skills to the tiniest detail and draws special attention to the precision of the classical technique such as the pointe footwork.

Choosing the Perfect Tutu

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Costume making is an art form of itself. The Australian Ballet has dozens of skilled costumiers who design tutus in accordance with the choreographer’s vision, the individual form of the dancer and of course the body movements. However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll need to hire a team of costume designers to craft the perfect tutu from scratch. With just a few easy clicks you can find absolutely gorgeous tutus approved by professional dancers that will instantly bring out the classical ballerina in any dancer.

The key thing when choosing a new dance tutu is comfort. Your tutu should feel gorgeous to dance in and it shouldn’t interfere with your movements in any way. And since the dancer’s magic is in the details, your ballet tutu should also add a bit of sparkle and pizzazz to your performance. It doesn’t matter if it’s just for practice or your first stage performance, you’ll always remember and cherish the day you got your first tutu. It’s a magical moment because it signifies that you’ve mastered this amazing form of art and you’re finally ready to wear the iconic skirt.

If you’re shopping for a practice tutu, you should stay away from the cheap ones which are basically big piles of fluff attached to a band with no other support whatsoever. This type of skirt will get on your nerves with every jump you make since it doesn’t have anything to hold it in place.

A quality practice skirt, such as the half tutu by Studio 7, will behave like a performance tutu and it’ll prepare you for dancing in a costume on stage. This tutu features 6 gorgeous layers of firm net tulle with tactel waistband and briefs. The lovely, yet low-key design makes it perfect for practice and it will allow you allow you to concentrate on the choreography and make the most out of your rehearsal time.

When choosing a performance tutu for a competition or audition, apart from feeling comfy and confident, you have to dress for the part. Just imagine if the black swan appeared on stage in a pink sparkly tutu – a complete flop. Same goes for your choreography, you need to find the perfect costume that conveys the right message to the audience or judges.

For instance, if you’re playing a princess or a fairy, you should check out the Floral Romance tutu by Studio 7. This pink romantic style skirt features stunning embroidered flowers which will capture the gentle and loving nature of the character you’re playing.

Closing Thoughts

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Once you get your hands on the tutu of your dreams, make sure you take good care of it because even the most expensive skirts can be easily ruined if you’re not careful enough. You should always clean your skirt by hand and avoid wearing jewelry which can get caught in the tulle.

Finding the perfect dance tutu takes time and patience because it’s not just an ordinary piece of dance apparel. You have to feel that special connection in order to dance, look and feel good. So, don’t wait any longer and start your search today.