Talk about Tutu's and pictures of ballet dancers and little girl's in fairy costumes spring to mind.
The Birth of The Tutu
The Tutu evolved out of necessity in the late 19th Century. Before that ballet dancing was more of a social affair where the dancers wore their normal everyday clothes which were usually heavy, clumbersome and highly restrictive in the range of movements they allowed the dancers to perform
As ballet and the operatic performances associated with it became more of an art form and gained in notoriety throughout the 1800's the dance costumes of that time consisted of long skirts worn by the women along with tight laced bodices, and bloomers covering the legs to below the knees. Over time they grew shorter and shorter enabling the audience to see more of the intricate footwork.
Types of Tutu
Tutu's evolved as a result of ballet becoming ever more professional along with the dancers need for greater flexibility and ever more freedom of movement into what we recognize as the Tutu. There are a number of different types of Tutu which are defined by the shape of the skirt such as: -
The Romantic or Bell Tutu as defined by the flowing three quarter length bell shaped skirt
The Pancake Tutu which sticks out around the hips kept stiff and flat through the use of wire and netting
The Powder Puff Tutu with its light fluffy appearance
The Tutu Today
Today, they come in a whole range of colours and sizes and more professional dancers may even wear them adorned with rhinestones to give that extra sparkle. While it is still a popular item of dance wear clothing for certain types of dance the Tutu has been largely usurped by the leotard. They also remain very popular with young children who get a great deal of excitement and joy wearing variations of them as fancy dress costumes.