Tutus

As the school year session starts, you're working on the basics, learning some new steps, and working on your technique. Dancing at a studio, your instructor is probably already working on your recital dance, picking out your music, and picking out your class's costume as well. At my studio, my instructor just started teaching us the first part of our recital dance last week. I know it seems soon, but you know what they say, sooner is always better. At my studio this is the time when some of the instructors start asking us what costumes and theme we want for our dance recital. As we were asked this in ballet it was prominent that everybody wanted a tutu, but as we had this discussion no one knew what kind. Our instructor informed us what style she had in mind for us, but this made me realize that I as well as other people don't really know that much about tutus and its origins or styles as well as among other things.

Now if you don't know what a tutu is it is a skirt used in ballet, it's made out of tulle and it's use is to enhance grace, beauty and femininity in a pleasing way.  there are five types of tutus. There is the Romantic, Classical(pancake), Classical(bell), Balanchine, and Platter tutu. These different types of tutu's were developed over time and were developed by shortening them in order to see the ballerina's footwork better. The shortening of the skirt allows greater range of movement for the dancer and is instrumental in the development of ballet today. The tutu is now used all over the world, universally known and used from little kid ballet recitals to world famous ballet dancers and companies.

The Romantic tutu, credited to Marie Taglioni first in 1832, is  a three-quarter length skirt shaped like a bell. The end of the skirt falls between the knees and ankles. The romantic tutu is used to emphasize lightness and is free flowing. There are two types of the romantic tutu, but those just depend on where the skirt is placed on your waist.

The Classical(pancake) tutu is a much shorter skirt that, opposed from the bell shape, is stiff and sticks straight out. Wire hooping is usually used to keep the tutu stiff and straight as well as more layers are used to accomplish this.

The Classical(bell) tutu is a short and stiff tutu, similar to that of the pancake, but is shaped like a bell. It is usually a little longer than the pancake style and does not use a wire hoop to keep it stiff and straight but uses layers.

The Balanchine tutu, also known as the "powder puff" is a soft, short tutu that has little layers and no wire. This skirt is used to give a softer fuller appearance.

The Platter tutu sticks out straight from the dancers waistline. Similar to the Pancake tutu, but the Platter tutu is more stiff and straight whereas the pancake is a little fuller on the top.

I for one love tutus. When you dance they just flow and you feel so pretty when wearing one. You get all ready for your recital or performance and when you put on your tutu you just feel like a professional dancer. It's a great feeling to wear a tutu no matter what style or kind you wear they're always fun and enjoyable and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.