The Story Of Classical Tutus

The Classical tutu, despite what the name implies, was not the original incarnation of the garment worn by ballet dancers around the world. It spawned from the original Romantic tutu (named for the period in which Romanticism was rejecting the scientific views of the world and portrayed worldwide in ballet), which was first worn by Marie Taglioni, 1832 in the then scandalous La Sylphide. The Classical was born in 1880 when Virginia Zucci, also known as "Divine Virginia," came out on stage wearing a knee-length tutu. Providing less restriction for the dancer's intricate movements, the shortened tutu became known as the Classical tutu. Ending just above the ballerina's knees, this style allows the audience to see the more intricate movements of the dancers. Dressed with sequins, lace, and pearls, the skirt has become an elaborate yet essential part of the ethereal illusion created by the dancer.

Today's Classical tutu has many different styles. The Bell is an extremely short and stiff skirt made with layers of netting, a subtle bell shape, and a fitted bodice. It protrudes horizontally from the hips and does not have need of a wire hoop. The famous ballet painting, "The Dance Class," by Degas, 1874, depicts a beautiful example of this particular style of tutu. The Powder Puff differs from the Bell by having no hoops and fewer layers of netting. The skirt is loosely tacked to give a softer and fuller appearance than what can be accomplished with the Bell. The shorter skirt is made of six to seven layers of gathered net, each receding layer a half an inch shorter than the previous layer above, and tacked together for a looser and fuller appearance. No wire hoop is needed because the shorter layers are self-supporting. The Platter has a flat top that extends straight out from the dancer's waistline.

The final evolution of the Classical is the Pancake style, which has a stiff skirt that extends horizontally from the hips, with wire hoops and hand tacking to keep the layers flat and stiff while aiding in the retention of its shape and stiffness. Although the tutu has continued the evolve through the years, the Classical style has dominated the style of ballet costumes for 120 years. The Classical tutu allows for the intricate details in the dancer's style, grace, and beauty to shine uninhibited for the audience to see. A well-made and chosen tutu will aid the dancer in telling the story of the dance while being an extension of the dancer itself.


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