Where Did The Tutu Come From And Why?
Before the tutu was the leotard. Now, the tutu skirt and the leotard combine to form an outfit that has awed viewers for centuries. The tutu has evolved quite a few times in its history. When you picture a ballerina, a tutu is a part of the outfit, but they haven't always looked as they do today. The first tutu ever has been said to belong to Marie Taglioni of Paris, in 1832, at a performance known as La Sylphide. It was called the Romantic tutu in the Romantic period of the ballet costume history and was elegantly long with an ethereal style, made with 3-5 layers of tulle. Although long, the tutu still revealed Taglioni's wonderful footwork. Each time the tutu evolved in its history, it grew shorter and shorter.
The reasoning behind this was to reveal more and more of the delicate footwork the ballet dancers were performing. Within fifty years, the hemline was sewed higher and higher up the leg; first worn by Virginia Zucci, the Italian ballerina in the 1880's, the tutu ended right above the knee and was known as the classical tutu. Later it shrunk even further and became the pancake tutu. The pancake tutu style is a stiff skirt that comes out horizontally from the hips, with wire within the layers to help maintain its shape.
The last style developed was by George Balanchine and is known as the powderpuff tutu. Similar to the classical tutu, however it does not have hooping in its design and has less tulle; this makes it softer and more flowing than the Pancake tutu. The story behind the "tutu" name is quite interesting. The "cheap seat" viewers often got sneak peeks under the short lengths of the tutu. Therefore, they seen their "bottoms" and began to talk. The French word for the "bottom" is "cucu" which evolved into "tutu". From the research gathered, the tutu was designed because it adds to the angelic and magical look of the ballerina's outfit. The original ballerina outfit was the leotard. The tutu is just added to the leotard.
Therefore, tutus come in many styles and shapes in order to choose one that coincides with the leotard being used. Different types of dances most likely use different types of ballerina outfits in order to add to the style of the dance. Ballerinas range in age and ballets range in styles; the outfit overall (leotard & tutus) add to the elegance and style of these.
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