How To Buy a Ballet Tutu

Buying a ballet tutu is not as easy as you may think; there are certain measurement points which will differ with each dancer. So before you buy what's on sale, be sure you have a back-up plan for altering the tutu if needed. Not every tailor is equipped to take up the hem up on the delicately crafted tulle and manage to return the tutu in full working condition. If you need alterations, check with your local dance supply retailer for a referral to the best tutu tailor in town. When buying the perfect tutu, the key measuring factors will come down to the bust, torso bodice and length of the skirt.

For ballet rehearsal, any shear wrap-around dance skirt will do. However, for performance, the tutu needs to be the proper length to accentuate your leg movements and show off your body alignment. When performing an arabesque or raising to a six o'clock panche, the tutu should not fall below the hip joint on the free leg, as that will cut off the line and make you look dumpy.

Fitting the tutu to match both bust and waistline can be a problem, so you may need to take in the torso material a bit to match the bust size. The safest way to buy a tutu online is to go by length, which won't have to be altered, and buy a tutu with a larger torso than you need to give you plenty of room to work on custom fitting the upper body section of the costume. Be sure that the trunk portion fits like a banana peel to reduce the chance of it bunching up and wrinkling when you extend your legs. Conversely, it should not be so tight that a zipper or hook will snap while you take center stage. The best custom fit, is from the old school of dance where the ballerina is sewn into the tutu just minutes before she takes the stage. The best, most easily customized tutus are available in the highest grade and quality when purchased directly from Russia at www.dancechoice.com.
In professional performance, the tutu length with vary based upon the skill level and billing order of the dancer. Prima ballerinas will have the shortest tutu skirts when performing classical numbers; for contemporary or excerpt pieces, a longer tutu is appropriate. Ordering your tutu from a professional ballet supplier will ensure that it is properly detailed for the character you're going to dance. Whether it’s Don Quixote or the Odette from Swan Lake, you can be sure the tutu will fit the bill and be appropriate for the ballet.