Sequins, Nets and Floaty dresses

They are a floaty, beautiful, magical wonder of ballet. Tutus have wowed audiences for years and offer a special feel for dancers as they drift across the stage, studio or even their lounge. The modern tutu is an all-in-one attached leotard and skirt traditionally worn for ballet performances. But did you know that ballerinas don’t just wear the tutu in a ballet performance?  It is actually really common for dancers to wear a slip-on skirt tutu during practice; especially when rehearsing pas de deux where a female and male dancer are working together. The practice tutu provides a guideline for the male dancer of where to lift the female in order not to squash the tutu!

But how are they made? Tutus are detailed to the extreme with every sequin, net and colour serving a purpose to the story which it is trying to represent. Many professional tutus will have 10 layers of net sewn in. This is different to amateur tutus which will often have just 6 to 8 layers for reasons of cost and time efficiency. As you can imagine just to make the net skirt is extremely time consuming and involves lots of costume makers sewing, embellishing and cutting around the clock before a ballet performance. With all of this effort taken just to make one tutu, it is common for makers to make them adjustable by placing rows of hooks down the back of the bodice thus allowing dancers of different sizes to use the same costume.

If you are keen to try out a tutu for yourself, you can explore different ranges through online dance stores. If you prefer to admire them from afar take a look at The Sleeping Beauty being streamed by the Royal Opera House today where you will be sure to get your tutu fix!